PRESS RELEASE – SCHOOL FEES ADJUSTMENTS

9 SEPTEMBER, 2021
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to
advise its valued stakeholders that non-Government schools which
are increasing fees and charging levies without consulting parents
or getting permission from the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary will
attract severe penalties.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education therefore, warns
all Responsible Authorities to ensure they charge approved fees
and levies.

Section 21 of the Education Act (Chapter 25:04) as amended,

provides that:
“(1) No responsible authority shall—
(a) charge any fee or levy; or
(b) increase any fee or levy;
in respect of any pupil attending a non-Government school, unless
the fee or levy or increase therein, as the case may be, has been
approved by the Secretary.
The Permanent Secretary shall not approve any increase of fees
or levies sought in respect of the next term of the non- Government
school concerned unless — (a) the increase of such fees and levies
are justified by reference to some basis other than the application
of the consumer price index; and
(b) the proposal to increase fees or levies has been approved by a
majority of the parents at a meeting of the School Parents
Assembly attended by not less than twenty per centum of the
parents.”
From the above quoted sections of the Education Act, any fees and
levies charged by all non-Government schools should be approved
by the Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education. It is worth
noting that non-compliance with this law is a criminal offence as
provided for in terms of Section 21 sub section (6) which provides
that:
“Any person who contravenes this section or fails to comply with
any notice in terms of subsection (5) shall be guilty of an offence
and liable to a fine equivalent to the excess amount charged or
imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or to both such
fine and such imprisonment.”
It is therefore, imperative that Responsible Authorities follow proper
procedures highlighted above in increasing fees and levies.
Schools that had charged unapproved fees and levies should
revert back to approved fees and levies and reimburse parents
accordingly.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education continues to
strive to provide quality, relevant, inclusive, equitable and
wholesome education for all Zimbabweans.

MRS TUMISANG THABELA

SECRETARY FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION