AICZ urges private colleges to comply with MOPSE d...

AICZ urges private colleges to comply with MOPSE directives

Zim Nqw Writer

The Association of Independent Colleges and Private Schools Zimbabwe has urged all institutions to comply with Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education directives to ensure that there are no disruptions to learning when schools open in January.

**AICZ president and founder Prof Washington Mahiya**

“We are here to provide a key human right, the right to education, and it is not right when children lose learning time because institutions have been closed for non-compliance,” said AICZ president and founder Prof Washington Mahiya while speaking to Zim Now.

This comes as parents and learners fear a repeat of last year when government shut down institutions that did not comply with the Education Act.

22 000 learners enrolled at unlicensed private schools in the capital were not able to attend classes as 320 out of 448 were deemed to be operating illegally.

Prof Mahiya said that while there are certain areas where there is need for government to appreciate challenges being faced by the private education institutions, compliance is important.

“We will continue to engage with the Ministry. Two weeks ago we had a successful meeting with the Minister and the Permanent Secretary among other officials from the Ministry,” said Prof Mahiya.

Education Ministry permanent secretary Mr Moses Mhike has said the ministry is eager to work with the private institutions to ensure quality education for all.

He said government is looking at getting better results through engagement instead of punitive enforcement.

“It is not that as a ministry we do not want to apply the rules and regulations, but we believe if we are going to be dialoguing, we are going to get results that will favour everyone and contribute to quality education in the nation,” he said.

He said the ministry is moving towards structured and more regular consultation with private institutions.

“Come 2024, we are going to be rolling out a programme where we are going to be engaging these independent colleges so that they regularise,” he said, stressing that compliance is crucial.

“The other issue we have observed is that they have not been coming to the ministry for them to be able to have their levies and fees approved because the Education Act and attendant regulations are very clear that that should be sorted from the ministry and then things go accordingly.”

Prof Mahiya said that AICZ which has over 500 members is an ideal platform for all private colleges and schools to make their voices heard by the ministry as well as creating useful synergies with peers in the space.