CHITUNGWIZA - Schools opened on Tuesday - but the number of children attending classes has dropped drastically. Many parents opting to send their children to private colleges that are not affected by the now common industrial action by teachers.
In addition, top up fees that are a requirement at public schools do not apply and parents do not have to buy school uniforms.
The last few weeks have given parents with children in transition headaches. They have to buy school uniforms – costing from $10 to $50. School shoes range from $13. They have to provide books, and, for children starting grade one or form one, the school fees are higher than for other levels.
Assailed with such a money-spending scenario, many parents have opted to have their children at private colleges where school uniforms are not compulsory.
Even though I do not have faith in private colleges I have decided that my children will go to a private collage. I cannot afford the school uniform for the older one who is proceeding to form three, and the young one who is now going to secondary school, said Ruth Chimimba from Chitungwiza.
Last year the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture hinted that government would move to close down private colleges which do not meet the basic requirements of the ministry such as proper sanitation, but that is still to be followed up with action.
Most colleges in the country are not properly registered, and some of the teachers are not qualified enough. But parents such as Ruth do not have many options, as the government has insufficient funds to fully capacitate the public schools. Continued intransigence by Zanu (PF) in adhering to the terms of the GPA has denied the country much-needed donor funding and impoverished teachers constantly demand that children pay levies.
Post published in: News