Govt to ensure smooth registration of independent ...

Govt to ensure smooth registration of independent schools

**Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Edgar Moyo**

Michael Mashiri

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has said it will ensure smooth sailing of school registrations in order to cater for all applicants interested in establishing colleges and schools.

Speaking at an Interactive and Consultative meeting organised by the Zimbabwe Independent Colleges Association in Harare yesterday, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerai Moyo, lauded efforts by ZICA to bring together owners of various independent colleges across all corners of the country to interact with the Ministry.

“My Ministry, will from the onset reinvigorate its mechanism and staffing involved in registration of schools, so that the process is done without hitches since the law and the Education Act provides for that.

“I am reliably informed that most of your members have been tendering applications for establishment and registration, facing some delays, the Ministry will harmonise the process and procedures such that applicants submit appropriate documents from the onset at district and provincial levels,” he said.

He said he was aware of concerns surrounding old policies and guidelines and his Ministry was in the process of dealing with them.

“The Ministry is revisiting the old policy circulars, the Statutory instruments governing independent colleges, with the legal department almost through with the revised Education Regulations,” he said.

Moyo added that his Ministry was committed to promoting and facilitating inclusive quality education for socio-economic transformation within the framework of the Zimbabwean curriculum.

Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Moses Mhike, speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the event, said they were having challenges with unregistered colleges and advised them to do so.

He added that they were going to use a diplomatic approach in ensuring the registration of those that are not properly registered.

Mhike said the colleges were playing an important role in dispensing education in the different communities they are stationed.

“The majority of challenges we have had with our colleges is issues of registration, where some them have went on to offer services without proper registration and following proper regulations that are needed in the education sector.

“As a Ministry, we continue to observe the critical role that they play and we have said as a Ministry we are not going to use a hammer, we are going to use engagement.

“It is not that as a Ministry we do not want to apply the rules and negotiations, but we believe if we are going to be dialoguing. We are going to get a result that favours everyone that will contribute to quality education in our nation and that is why we have always been appealing and we will continue to appeal,” he said.

He also highlighted that most colleges were just coming up with their fees without consulting the Ministry.

“We have observed that they have not been coming to the Ministry to have their fees and levies approved, because the Education Act is very clear.

“As a Ministry, come 2024, we are going to be having a deliberate calendar and we are going to be meeting with the associations religiously,” he added.

ZICA president, Robert Mhlanga, expressed gratitude to the Ministry for having the engagement with them.

He thanked the Ministry for being lenient with many colleges that were struggling with registration because of regulations.

“I am humbled by the fact that after seven years in the wilderness, we have finally succeeded in securing an interactive and consultative meeting of this magnitude.

“We appreciate the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for adopting an intensive regulation campaign and extending an olive branch to some of our members who may have continued to face teething problems caused by regulation restrictions and financial limitations,” he said.

Though most of their stakeholders were happy with their programmes and service delivery, Mhlanga said, they welcomed MOPSE to intensify the supervision programmes to ensure that the learners are safe and are receiving quality, inclusive, innovative and sound Education to ensure participation in the achievement of vision 2030 National Development Strategy Goals.

“We request that this interactive and consultative agenda become part and parcel of our activities. Continuous improvement must be adopted as a solution to the problems we face today. Independent colleges, ECD centres, Infant and Primary Schools are determined to stand with the Government of Zimbabwe …..

“As investors in education, we are here to stay supported by our Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, when we make mistakes, please correct us with love,” he added.

ZICA is an association that strives for an open, fair and harmonious community of educators. It celebrates diversity by openly embracing their differences and aspirations.