Harare Metropolitan Province has over 400 unregistered schools operating illegally according to information established from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Office of the President and Cabinet, Tafadzwa Muguti says the illegal schools have a student population ranging between 300 to 1000 students respectively.
“Let it be understood that we shall no longer tolerate such ignorance, and lawlessness,” Muguti said.
“The Provincial Education Directorate shall immediately lead a whole of Government schools supervision programme before schools reopen in order to enforce the Education Act in its entirety, COVID 19 protocols and to report all misconduct to the respective arms of Government.”
Reports from the Provincial Education Directorate also reveal that both private and public schools inHarare did not seek Government authority to increase fees in 2022.
Schools have been seeking to hike fees by 300% with the Zimbabwean local currency facing threats from the rising inflation according to local media.
Muguti said, “All schools that are operating without Government authority and those that increased fees without the necessary approvals are urged to immediately regularise their operations, the consequences are well articulated in the same Act that authorises their very existence.”
“Parents and guardians reserve the right to request written proof of Government registration, municipal licensing, school fees increase authorisations and refunds were increases were done without legal standing.”
Schools in Harare are also being accused of charging of fees at parallel market rates, the refusal of local currency payments, the banning of School Development Committees (SDCs), the mismanagement of funds and failure to submit audited financials, the contemptuous treatment of Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education supervisory staff, and discrimination.
The secretary said any form of misconduct, discrimination or intimidation should be reported to the Office of the Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution.
