Not government policy to buy uniforms from schools

Zim Now Writer

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has re-iterated that forcing parents to buy uniforms from them is illegal, encouraging parents to report such schools.

Parents have expressed concern that schools are forcing them to purchase expensive uniforms, and in certain circumstances, individuals who cannot afford the uniforms have been denied admission.

Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Edgar Moyo, stated parents and guardians could buy uniforms where it is cost-effective for them as they are not required to buy at schools where their children learn.

“Children being forced to buy uniforms by schools is illegal. We have a free-market economy and parents are supposed to buy wherever they have a cost advantage.

“Yes indeed, it has happened and some of it has been brought to our attention and we have taken action against such schools and headmasters.

“No school should force children to buy uniforms from them nor should they create a situation where if you have not bought a uniform from them, then you have not gotten a place. That is not allowed, it is illegal,” Moyo said.

The deputy Minister also encouraged schools to look for ways to make revenue rather than send students home for non-payment of fees.

“Then children being sent home, again it is the same thing and I think some court judgements have been pronounced with regards to that. That is illegal. The contract of school fees payment is between the school and parents and the child must not be used to force parents to pay.

“It is actually an abuse of those children denying their right to education. So, we encourage schools to come up with innovative ways of making sure parents pay. We have suggested that schools can sit with parents and agree on payment plans.

“Where children are so disadvantaged like orphaned and vulnerable children, BEAM is there to assist them and I am speaking here for public schools. The private schools come under a different mandate in terms of our Acts,” he said.

Last year, BEAM is said to have covered 1.5 million children while this year, the target was to reach 1.8 million children.