Chronicle
2 September 2010
Chronicle Reporter
THIRD term school fees at Government schools will not change from those paid during the second term, Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart said yesterday.
In an interview, Minister Coltart reiterated that teachers’ incentives would remain in place until the Government is able to pay decent salaries.
The fees for Government schools are pegged at US$5 and US$10 for primary schools in high density and low-density suburbs respectively.
Parents with children attending secondary school in high-density suburbs are expected to pay US$10 while those in low-density areas will have to pay US$20.
However, in a bid to ensure that their children get proper education, parents have agreed to pay teachers incentives, which vary with schools.
“Fees for Government schools will not change. They are going to remain the same. Non-governmental schools vary according to institutions but those with intention of hiking the fees first have to apply to the permanent secretary (in the his ministry) for approval,†said Minister Coltart.
“The teachers’ incentives will continue in the meantime. We cannot remove them because we cannot pay the teachers a proper salary. Until we are able to pay the teachers, it is not possible for us to scrap the incentives.â€
A number of private schools in Bulawayo have maintained the fees that they were charging during the second term. The few that hiked the fees added about US$50 on top of the money charged last term.
Parents with children attending Christian Brothers College are still paying US$1 090 while those with children at Dominican Convent High School are still forking out US$1 200.
Masiyephambili College raised its fees from US$800 to US$850.
Meanwhile, teachers yesterday said they will report for duty when schools open next week, although they are disappointed with the way the Government is handling the issue of their salaries.
Teachers earn about US$150 per month. In an interview, Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) president, Mrs Tendai Chikowore, who is also the chairperson of the Apex Council, a body that represents all civil servants, said they were still lobbying the Government to come back to the negotiating table.
“We have written to the Government to bring them to the negotiating table. We have also approached the chairperson of the Joint Negotiating Council (Dr Nelson Sambureni) to push for the meeting but nothing has happened,†said Mrs Chikowore.
“We were mandated by the teachers before the schools closed to meet the Government and present our grievances but the Government seems not to take us seriously.
“There are no plans for mass action when schools open because we have not met to discuss the way forward.
“However, what I must say is that the teachers are not happy with their salaries and the way the Government is handling the matter.â€