Zimbabwe schools charging forex face de-registration

Ndaka Majaka

The Zimbabwe government has read the riot act to all schools charging school fees in foreign currency threatening to de-register them. This follows an outcry from parents over surging levy regimes. Government also warned  schools against unilaterally hiking fees.

The country’s acting Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Amon Murwira told a news conference that the country’s Statutory Instrument 212 of 2019 – which contains regulations for the exclusive use of Zimbabwe Dollar for domestic transactions – made it illegal for schools to charge in other currencies directly or indirectly.

“As for private schools charging directly or indirectly in forex, the responsible authorities are warned that they risk de-registration of such schools.

“If they choose in one way or another to charge in forex, they are in breach so that breach has to be checked,” Professor Murwira said.

He also added that heads of all public schools charging in forex faced prosecution and disciplinary action.

This comes amid discord between schools and government over the matter with schools raising fees unilaterally and government claiming it had not approved a tuition fee hike.

At the news conference, Professor Murwira said there would be no increases in tuition fees at all public schools.

“There will be no tuition fee increases in public schools. But other levies like boarding fees and other fees are subject to market forces. The schools have been given guidelines on how to operate,” he said, adding that the ministry has a budget of ZWL$8 billion to support basic education.