‘Introduce levy to cover exam fees administration costs’

GOVERNMENT has advised schools to come up with strategies, among them introducing a small levy to cover bank and transport charges they incur when collecting examination fees on behalf of the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec).

Concerns about the huge costs that are leaving some schools poorer due to bank and transport charges, took centre stage at the National Association of Secondary School heads (Nash) conference that ended in Victoria Falls on Friday.

Zimsec recently set examination fees in US dollars for the November public examinations but actual payment must be made between 22 and 29 July through examination centres in Zimbabwe dollars using the interbank rate. Zimsec will not accept payment from candidates directly into its accounts.

The full fees are Grade Six US$11, Grade Seven US$22, O-level US$24 per subject and A-level US$48 per subject.

The Government will be subsidising 55 percent of the set fees for candidates from Government, local authority and not-for-profit mission schools, while candidates from private schools, colleges or sitting as private candidates will have to pay the full fees.

Parents will pay equivalent of US$5 for Grade Six, the equivalent of US$10 for Grade Seven, the equivalent of US$11 a subject for O-level and the equivalent of US$22 per subject for A-level following the Government subsidy.

School heads said they will be left poorer as has happened over the years, as they will use their own savings to cater for transport costs and bank charges while remitting examination fees to Zimsec.

Some incur costs running into tens of thousands of dollars, money which should be used for school projects.

One headmaster said his school would pay about $500 000 from its coffers for about $15 million that will be paid by 400 candidates who registered with the school.

Schools have implored Zimsec to have a pool account where candidates can deposit the examination fees and provide proof of payment to the examination centre, or at least cede a percentage of the fees for the schools to cover costs.

They said Zimsec can also emulate the Higher Education Examination Council (Hexco) which cedes a percentage of examination fees to examination centres to cover extra costs.

Schools, especially those in rural areas, fear they may also be raided by thieves as they keep the cash in unsafe offices while waiting to take the money to the bank.

Some said they will be forced to change the money on the parallel market as some parents pay in foreign currency, since Zimsec wants the fees paid in Zimbabwe dollars.

Nash President Mr Arthur Maposa said schools were concerned about their future as many were getting poorer due to the costs which eat deep into their budgets. Responding to the concerns, Primary and Secondary Education deputy Minister Edgar Moyo urged schools to engage parents and come up with a nominal fee to cover costs.

He, however, warned against abuse of the facility which can be used as a money spinning wheel.

“The Nash executive has told us about the challenges they are facing and with the volumes of money that is going to come through as a result of examination fees, we also understand the predicament that they are facing.

“In the past private candidates would pay centre fee which would go towards liquidating those bank charges but, however, because of other reasons that is no longer sustainable. We have advised Nash to also come up with innovative ways of handling that matter and one of the ways is to come up with a small fee but they have to agree with parents after lobbying with them and explaining the predicament which they are facing,” said Deputy Minister Moyo.

He said Zimsec was not in a position to give a grant to schools as the parastatal is resource constrained.

Deputy Minister Moyo said there should be responsible ways of addressing the issue without depleting schools’ coffers.

Responding to the same concerns, Zimsec spokesperson Ms Nicky Dlamini said this was a common complaint. She, however, said Zimsec had failed to get exemption from Treasury.

“Zimsec applied to the Ministry of Finance (and Economic Development) but unfortunately we were denied exemption and there is nothing we can do for now. We can understand the disgruntlement but all of us are not exempted. I think we should probably all come up with a joint position on the matter,” she said.

Primary and Secondary Education Ministry permanent secretary Mrs Tumisang Thabela, while officially closing the conference on Friday, said Nash is a critical constituency as it represents a critical level of management that directly impacts on the Ministry’s ability to fulfil its mandate. About 920 school heads attended the conference whose theme was: “Education through and beyond Covid-19.” -@ncubeleon