Chivi schools demand US$ fees

TATENDA CHIKARA IN CHIVI

Several schools in  Chivi district , Masvingo Province, are demanding  payment of fees  strictly in United  States dollars while rejecting the Zimbabwe dollar, Business Times can report.

In a few instances in which they accept the local currency, the schools peg the fees using the parallel market rate, which is punitive.

This week the Zimbabwe dollar was trading at ZWL$450:US$1.

The development has sparked an outcry from parents, who said education was a basic right for every child.

“We are asked to pay in US$. When paying in  local currency, we pay using the rate on the black market to which it is out of reach of many,” a  parent from Virira village  in Chivi district, who spoke to Business Times on condition of anonymity said.

Another parent  echoed the sentiments.

“Our children are being sent back home because we are not affording to pay these exorbitant fees in US$.

“Schools demand us to pay using rates that are prevailing  on the black market, which then makes life hard for us worse this year we have got a drought,” the parent said.

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said under funding by the government has forced schools to demand more from parents for their developments.

“The school fees that are being charged by schools are  charged looking at the cost of living in the country. The government needs to fund schools.

“School administrators need to see only children getting their education hence parents should demand State funded education,” Masaraure said.

Contacted for a comment, the Provincial education director for Masvingo Province, Shylatte Mhike said the demand for school fees equivalent to black market rate by some schools was misguided .

“That is misguided, parents should demand for fees approval from school authorities,” Mhike told Business Times.

She added: “It is their right (parents). If again parents have issues with schools they should visit our offices. The only problem is that they think they will be victimised which then becomes a problem.”