MInistry to name, shame schools that hike fees wit...

MInistry to name, shame schools that hike fees without authority

Illegal fees hikes: Govt to name, shame schools | The Sunday Mail — **Kwadzanayi Nyanungo**

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has said Government will publicly name and shame schools found to have adjusted tuition fees and levies without its approval.

School authorities who unilaterally hiked third term tuition fees, in contravention of government’s regulations, will face charges of criminal financial misconduct.

In terms of Circular Number 1 of 2023, all Government boarding schools, private early childhood development centres and private schools and colleges are required to apply for a review of levies and tuition fees before effecting changes.

Acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Ms Kwadzanayi Nyanungo, on Friday said a list of the offending institutions will be published “in the next seven days”.

“The ministry is currently monitoring and enforcing strict compliance with the provisions of the Secretary’s Circular Number 1 of 2023, which provides standard guidelines for the determination and processing of applications for the increase of school fees and levies.

“This circular is in line with the Treasury’s requirements on management of public funds.

“In the next seven days, statistics will be ready on the exact number of non-compliant schools and the action taken in this regard,” she said.

Education authorities have reportedly launched an investigation targeting the schools, with some suspected of demanding payment of tuition fees exclusively in United States dollars.

Ms Nyanungo said there are two decision-making levels for approval of an adjustment to school fees and levies, which are done at provincial level.

“Within the devolution system, provincial education directors use the stated guidelines to process applications for an increase of fees and levies at their level and the statistics thereof are maintained at provincial level.

“As we speak, the ministry is conducting a survey to determine the exact number of applications per district, province, the proposed increase margin and the proportions of approval and rejections,” she said.

“Any violation of this policy requirement will be handled in line with Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000, as amended, as it constitutes an act of financial misconduct that also brings the ministry into disrepute.

“Furthermore, the illegal collection of unapproved fees constitutes serious financial malpractice that other competent arms of Government are also addressing in their own right.

“These include the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit.”

“Such details should include the name of the school, name of the school head, district, province and evidence of financial malpractice, including the issuance of a receipt in a different currency to the one paid,” Ms Nyanungo said.

She said parents must reject unapproved tuition fee adjustments.