Friday, March 29, 2024

State warns schools still demanding fees

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Education Minister John Phiri  deputy Minister David Mahumba
File: Education Minister John Phiri (r). On the left is deputy Minister David Mahumba.

THE Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training has warned of stern action against basic and secondary schools that are still demanding Grade 9 examination fees from pupils.
Permanent secretary Mirriam Choonya, in an interview yesterday, said the ministry has received reports that some schools are still collecting money from pupils even after the minister issued a directive to abolish the fees.

“We have received reports of schools that are still charging examination fees and that is not right, as Government did scrap the fees,” Ms Choonya said.

Ms Choonya said it is important for all officers in the ministry, charged with the responsibility of running schools to comply with the minister’s directive as it was an official policy directive.
She said Government decided to scrap grade nine examination fees to ensure a smooth progression from grade seven to grade 10. Therefore, there is no need for schools to be given official notification to stop collecting examination fees.

Ms Choonya called on members of the public, especially parents, to report cases of pupils being charged grade nine examination fees, so that the ministry can take necessary action.

She said the Ministry of Education attaches great importance to free and quality education for all Zambians and anyone creating obstacles will be dealt with accordingly.

Ms Choonya said the ministry has a duty to provide education for all and will make sure all barriers to free and quality education are removed.

She also said due to its commitment to providing quality education, the Ministry of Education is in the process of reviewing the education curriculum and upgrading all learning institutions, to provide quality and affordable education for all citizens.

She said Government is also aware that quality education is the primary vehicle by which marginalised children can bring themselves out of poverty and attain economic and social dependence.
Ms Choonya pledged the ministry’s commitment to endeavour to remove all barriers that limit access and progression in education.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

18 COMMENTS

  1. Employ more teachers and give them a decent wage. If teachers are not well paid sont expect them to teach pupils well.

  2. THE PS SAID “Therefore, there is no need for schools to be given official notification to stop collecting examination fees”…..Madam PS, just give an official notice to all schools about this developement. I do not see anything wrong in doing this besides, people including head teachers fear the U-turns government has done on a number of issues to date. It will just be a page or two, scan and email to the 10 Provincial Education Officers who will find means of sending to their districts. Everything should be officially done madam.

  3. Thats the way to go. Educated people and independent can easily reduce the burden of running the ministry of health as they can avoid poverty-associated diseases and pay their own medical fees/schemes.

  4. How can they stop when money to run the schools is not provided and how do you expect teachers to teach when there are no materials to use, no wander anything so called for free is always rubbish.

  5. The Ministries of Education and Health are cardinal and any policy change should be taken in consultation with stakeholders so that whatever outcome would be owned by the people. stopping some certain fees in hospitals or schools might cause shortage of drug delivery in clinics and shortage of learning meterials in schools.Please consult the people.

  6. Government needs to clarify exactly what fees are to be collected and what fees are not to be collected. Even this news item is confusing – is it just Grade 9 examination fees that have been terminated, what about annual fees, what about fees and examination fees for other grades? Have measures been put in place to fund the schools by other means?

    Simply to warn of “stern action” does not help. The parents and guardians of every school age child need to know exactly what fees they are expected to pay and what fees they are not expected to pay. They should also know the quality of education will not suffer. Else, the lack of transparency leaves the door open to mistakes and even corruption! What is it with this PF government and its inability to communicate clear policies? 

  7. Yes, fire the school heads and their deputies. Bring in fresh and progressive minds. Why should they insist on collecting fees? Who are they collecting money for when the Government has said don’t? If these people want to collect fees, let them leave Government schools and open their own private schools where they can charge as much money as they want.

  8. Silly-Hungry teachers.Selfish for nothing.Let the poor children get an “Education”.Why is that “Education” is still EXPENSIVE in Zambia? Are you happy with the higher illiteracy that we have.?? Here in Russia 99% of people are literate because EDUCATION is absolutely free!!!!!

  9. How are we going to pay for the running of schools? I like the idea of encouraging everyone to go to school by scrapping the school fees, but a plan/explanation of how this will be funded is in order. Before long, we’ll hear that school have no books, boards etc.
    Lets think outside the box for a moment … a typical text book costs about us$20, and a pupil will need at least 9 books from grade 1 to 9: us$20 multiplied by 9 = us$180. For us$180 GRZ can provide pupils or require parents to purchase either a laptop or tablet device and save BIG on stolen books, outdated prints, etc AND propel Zambia forward.
    But of course this will never happen, because it seems too ambitious. It really isn’t.

  10. there is strategy planning in the ministry of education, that is why pronouncement are being made in the newspapers. the issue of primary and seondary schools has not been given proper guidance, pupils are still going to basic shools for grade 8 and not secondary schools, abolition of examinations has not been backed by guidelines, schools do not have teaching and learning materials, proposed new universities seem to have been aborted, when this be operation within 18 months. if there is a government ministry which is failing the pf government it is education!

  11. That is good warning but all also something has been introduced in secondary schools called user fees,this is so high and the PTA has been hiked that it is beyond reach of us poorly paid parents.The minister must check with PTA and reveal these fees.

  12. UPND made e mess by forming a pact with the devil they did not know by the time they abadoned the pact many pipo had already made decision to vote for the devilush party.Now we are in trouble we dont know the next move then we shall hear Kalabo has gone to Angola and Chiengi to DRC.No consultation, no parliament involved, no chiefs involved.That is the problem of giving to much to one person.Kaunda is the causer of all these and incompentent RB Government.You can not predict who will rule the country infuture it can be a dictator as it is happening now.A dictator you can not his next move.I can see the new constitution allow this dictator to rule for more two years to make it 7 years.It is very easy to manupulate the new constitution in parliament no wonder these by elections.

  13. Madam PS I fail to reason with you on the isue of abolishing exam fees which is jst about K50,000 and yet pupils are paying close to one million just in grade eight. Please I am a full time PF but on this one it does make sense to me. You were supose to abolishing school fees before you talk about exam fees. because some children are not sterting school in grade when pass for there parrents can’t afford K500000 to pay at once.

  14. I agree with PELSI.Sata and his Cabinet,they are able to read what I have written beacuse they went to school.What’s wrong with you old people who work in government?? In KK’s time you went to school for free.Just because you can pay the fees for your kids it doesn’t mean everyone can! Plus “An education obtained with money is worse than no education at all” Please give chance to the poor,so that their children can get an Education.Sata is he forgetting that Education was one of his major promises? Education plays a vital when developing a nation,without education Sata will not fullfil his promises.No matter what you can say EDUCATION is inaccessible and unaffordable in Zambia.

  15. #2: I agree, even if official notice is not required, it’s a good thing to do to make sure everyone knows and understands the new policy.

  16. Do you have a child in school? I have got news for you. If you think education for your child is expensive today, wait till its free. The most expensive education anywhere in the world is indee the free education. Just think about it before you run to politicians for your child’s education.

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