WASHINGTON DC —
Schools are set to open on Tuesday for the second term with many parents saying they are failing to raise money for fees and levies.
One of the desperate parents, Tichaona Muchere, said he failed to send his Form Three son to a boarding school because he is failing to raise $405 for fees and $30 for incentives, even though the government directed that incentives be stopped.
On average, secondary boarding schools charge around $500 a term while day secondary schools charge around $100. Primary schools charge $50 per child. Muchere said it is difficult to raise money for school fees as most parents are not gainfully employed.
Some Zimbabweans also said children who were under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) program last term have been mysteriously dropped from the program at a time when parents are struggling to pay school fees.
Makokoba councillor James Sithole said the situation is worse in his ward which has the largest number of elderly people whose grandchildren depend on BEAM.
Sithole said at Lotshe Primary school 369 children applied for the scheme but only 58 are being catered for this term, 10 less than the previous term.
He said this has caused a lot of friction in the community.
One of the desperate parents, Tichaona Muchere, said he failed to send his Form Three son to a boarding school because he is failing to raise $405 for fees and $30 for incentives, even though the government directed that incentives be stopped.
On average, secondary boarding schools charge around $500 a term while day secondary schools charge around $100. Primary schools charge $50 per child. Muchere said it is difficult to raise money for school fees as most parents are not gainfully employed.
Some Zimbabweans also said children who were under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) program last term have been mysteriously dropped from the program at a time when parents are struggling to pay school fees.
Makokoba councillor James Sithole said the situation is worse in his ward which has the largest number of elderly people whose grandchildren depend on BEAM.
Sithole said at Lotshe Primary school 369 children applied for the scheme but only 58 are being catered for this term, 10 less than the previous term.
He said this has caused a lot of friction in the community.