Harare Sees Record Rise In Illegally Operating Schools

The rise in numbers of small private schools in Zimbabwe has resulted in more than 400 such schools operating illegally in Harare with the office of the Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution being inundated with complaints from concerned parents.

Some schools are said to be raising fees or levies without going through the required processes.

In a statement, Harare Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Tafadzwa Muguti, said the minister’s office had received many complaints from parents over increases in school fees and levies.

Muguti also expressed concern over schools that were failing to cooperate with officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education which has managerial or oversight authority, depending on the school’s status, and has the final say on whether school fees or levies can be raised and if so by how much following the necessary consultations with parents.

The Secretary said the provincial education directorate will immediately lead a supervision programme before schools re-open to enforce the Education Act and will report misconduct to the appropriate arm of

Under the Education Act, all private schools have to be registered with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, which retains the right of inspecting these schools periodically and ensuring that they are following the national curriculum although they are allowed to add extra subjects.

Under the Act, all increases in fees or levies have to go before a meeting of parents called for the purpose, which must have a quorum of at least 20 percent of parents, before a vote can be called. If the proposals gain a majority at the meeting then the school applies to the Education Ministry for permission to collect the new fee or levy, backing the application with financial statements and budgets and minutes of the meeting which must record the names of the parents attending.

The Zimbabwean government resolved recently to postpone the reopening of schools citing the pandemic as the reason.

In his New Year address, President Mnangagwa said that the schools were supposed to reopen on January 10, 2022, but only examination classes were allowed to reopen on January 10.