The poor state of the BEAM funds is likely to affect close to a million vulnerable children who depend on cash transfers for tuition and other fees.
Zinasu President, Gilbert Mutabuki, told journalist in Harare today that government should come up with ways to rescue the vulnerable beneficiaries.
“The government must discover new opportunities and sources of funding the education sector as a matter of urgency and avoid students particularly from poor financial backgrounds from dropping out of school since this will negatively impact on our future human capital,” he said.
Mutabuki said Government should mobilise funds from diamonds and channel them to assist beneficiaries so as to fulfill their promises to students.
Director of Social Services in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Services, Sydney Mhishi, Labour recently told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Service that government intended to fund 750 000 primary and 250, 000 secondary school pupils this year.
But with just $15 million allocated to BEAM, it can only support the education of 83, 000 secondary school pupils at a cost of $180 per child for the whole year.
“This means 167 000 targeted secondary school pupils and all 750 000 targeted primary school pupils will miss out unless funding is secured,” he said.
BEAM was introduced in 2000 by the government in conjunction with the World Bank, UNICEF and other development partners such as the UK-run DFID.
It was a response to the cost barriers linked to rising poverty that prevents orphans and other vulnerable children from accessing education.
Post published in: News