Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. The children of some teachers have failed to get their Grade 7 results after school authorities allegedly withheld them to force the teachers to settle school fees arrears.
Several schools in Gweru have reportedly refused to release result slips for children of teachers, saying they had not paid up school fees.
In February this year, the Government pledged to pay school fees for up to three biological children per teacher’s family.
The promised figure amounted to $20 000 per child per term.
However, the government has failed to fulfill its pledge, and now some teachers are in a quandary as they cannot apply for Form One places for their children without the Grade 7 results slips.
The Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Paul Mavima, said the government has not changed its position on paying school fees for the children of teachers. He said:
This is now an administrative matter that the Ministry of Education should pursue with the Treasury.
The policy instruction was given earlier this year by His Excellency, President E D Mnangagwa and still stands.
Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association of Zimbabwe (Zimta) secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said the government should pay the money for school fees directly into teachers’ bank accounts. Said Taderera:
This was a proposal by the workers where we said rather than putting money into the school account, why not put money into the teacher’s account?
We thought it was the best way to go as the school fees payment is concerned.
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