Schools calendar unchanged: Govt

THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has said it is illegal for schools to demand top ups for school fees and parents must immediately reports any such institution to the Government so that appropriate measures can be taken.

Further, the ministry said the school calendar has not changed. This was after some teacher organisations called on the Government to give the green light to some boarding schools to allow non-examination classes to close early because they were facing food shortages.

In an interview, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima said it was illegal for schools to demand topups. He said any increase in fees had to go through the ministry.

Prof Mavima said school heads were also assessing the situation with regards to food.

“Currently our school heads are assessing the situation so that they have an appreciation of what is needed and they will give us feedback. There is nothing like hunger in the schools and schools will all close on the scheduled time. All the food that schools need is available in the shops so how can they say pupils are starving, it’s a lie,” he said.

Information reaching the Sunday News is that some trust and private schools have started demanding top-ups while some have pegged next terms’ school fees and levies in foreign currency owing to the increase of prices in goods and services. —Robin Muchetu, Sunday News Reporter.