Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says there are plans to move the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to the education ministry itself, in a bid to speed up payments to schools.
The proposal follows ongoing delays in BEAM payments to schools and the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC), which have disrupted lessons and examinations for thousands of vulnerable pupils across the country.
At present, Treasury releases BEAM funds to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare as part of its social services budget.
The money is then transferred to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, which distributes it to schools.
This has led to repeated delays, leaving schools without fees for BEAM-supported pupils and putting disadvantaged children at risk of being excluded from education.
Taungana Ndoro, Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, said that discussions are underway to restructure how BEAM funds are handled. Said Ndoro:
“The issue of BEAM is that the budget line item rests in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare as a social services fund in that ministry.
“We actually have to wait for that money to come from the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to come to us, and then we disburse it to our schools.
“What we only do with BEAM funds is receive the money and send it to the schools.”
Ndoro said that when funds are not received, the ministry is unable to pay schools.
BEAM was set up to help disadvantaged children access education by covering school fees and examination costs.
However, by the end of 2024, the government owed US$98 million to BEAM and a further US$50 million to ZIMSEC.
Parents and education stakeholders have raised concerns about the impact of the funding shortfalls, particularly for pupils preparing to sit national examinations.
Ndoro said future beneficiaries would be prioritised according to vulnerability, starting with children who have lost both parents, followed by those with one surviving parent.
He added that children with both parents, including those whose parents work outside the country, would face stricter assessment before qualifying for assistance.
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