The Zimbabwean
By Jane Makoni
18 May 2011
Children enrolled at Nyameni High School here, with outstanding school fees will not be allowed to register for June public exams before clearing the arrears.
Parents with affected children expressed anger at what they described as arrogant violation of government policy by school authorities. Minister of Education, David Coltart, has instructed that no child should be denied the right to education for failing to pay school fees.
“How can an education institution behave in such a heartless manner? This condemns our children to an uncertain and poor future,†said a widowed parent whose daughter was affected by the new policy.
According to school teachers at the institution, the examination registration deadline was yesterday, Wednesday May 18.
Coltart has repeatedly called on and instructed school authorities not to disturb children’s education for failing to raise fees. But headmasters claim they did not receive his instruction in black and white.
Despite Nyameni High demanding school fees ahead of examination fees, the school remains the most run down High School in town. A block of classrooms has no doors on its more than eight classes. There are no window panes on the classes and no one seems to care.
The School Headmaster, Samapundo, told The Zimbabwean on Monday: “It is my individual decision to bar defaulting children from registering for public examinations here. ZIMSEC does not provide schools with stationery for examinations. We channel part of the school fees towards purchasing of necessary materials. Only children owing school fees dating back to last term will be allowed to register. Those with arrears stretching back to 2010 (last year) would not be entertained. There are no negotiations in this regard.â€