Published by the government of Zimbabwe
George Maponga
2 July 2009
Harare — Some Masvingo teachers are allegedly demanding buckets of maize and sweet potatoes from students who fail to raise school fees, a practice condemned by parents as a "raw deal" for them.
If true, this will set schools on a collision course with the Government, which has barred any educational institutions from demanding the payment of fees in kind.
Government has also outlawed teachers from demanding any incentives from students.
In interviews with The Herald after a visit to Mapanzure communal lands at the weekend, parents with children at Muchenurwa and Shumbayaonda primary schools said teachers were demanding maize and sweet potatoes from pupils.
One parent, Mr John Hakurabwi from Mapanzure irrigation scheme, said: "They are ripping us off, these teachers. They now demand maize and sweet potatoes from parents, if we fail to pay fees and incentives, which they also expect us to pay for them to come to work, yet they are being paid by the Government."
A Grade Six pupil at Muchenurwa said they were asked by their school authorities to pay with buckets of maize and sweet potatoes if they failed to raise cash.
Masvingo provincial education director Ms Clara Dube yesterday professed ignorance over the matter but said they would investigate the reports. Ms Dube said it was illegal for teachers to demand incentives or fees from students in kind.
"But I must point out that the Government does not allow the payment in kind of incentives or fees from students. We even encourage boarding schools not to get things in kind from pupils, to avoid cases of food poisoning," said Ms Dube.
She said depending on the agreement sealed between the school development committees and parents, teachers could receive incentives from - at most - ten percent of the money paid as levies.
Students should not pay incentives directly to teachers.
Government recently waived the payment of second-term fees at government schools, directing that pupils only pay US$5 and US$10 for primary and secondary students respectively as admission fees.
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