2024 school fees gazetted

TUITION fees for Government schools were recently gazetted by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo, with those for primary schools pegged at US$5 a term for P3 rural schools, US$10 a term for P2 schools in high-density suburbs and US$20 a term for P1 low-density suburban schools.

Although the tuition fees are set in US dollars, parents and guardians can pay in the local currency at the exchange rate on the date of payment for Zimbabwean learners.

For secondary schools, Statutory Instrument 240 of 2023, Education (Tuition and Boarding Fees) (Government Schools) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 (No. 1), sets the tuition fees for S1 schools in low-density suburbs at US$40 a term; for S2 schools in high-density suburbs, the figure stands at US$20 a term; and for S3 schools in rural areas, it stands at US$10 a term.

Parents only pay a small fraction of the total costs, with the State picking up the salaries bill for teachers in Government schools and some other costs.

The extent of this State support can be seen in the gazetted fees for foreign learners, who have to pay the full cost without support from the Zimbabwean taxpayer.

Primary tuition fees for all Government schools for this group, regardless of where the institution is situated, are US$300 a term; and for secondary schools, the figure is US$400 a term.

The foreign learners also have to pay in US dollars.

Although there are very few foreign learners, the gazetted fees for them do indicate the level of support the Government gives Zimbabwean learners.

Tuition fees can thus be used by the schools for materials and other expenses.

Additionally, the expanded BEAM programme covers learners from the poorest families.

Many Government schools also seek a top-up levy from parents through the schools development associations.

This is allowed, but the majority of parents have to agree on the figures and the ministry has to approve the charges. — The Herald

Minister Moyo