Every Child In School #ECIS Campaign is pleased by the response the minister has given to ours and the many other voices that SPOKE against the increase in examination fees for Ordinary and A’ Levels. We appreciate the swift move in respond to the press statement that we released yesterday calling for the revoking of the examination fees. We also asked the government to scrap the the Examination Fees altogether.
The examination board last week had announced that; Ordinary level examination fees per subject for private and non private shall be RTGS $190 up from RTGS $15. Advanced level students will have to pay RTGS $351 up from RTGS $26.
In his reversing statement, the minister said that:
Following the publication of the 2020 public examination fees, it has been found necessary to carry out further consultations. While the examination fees that were published are based on the actual cost of each examination, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform parents and guardians that following further representations, the recently released circular no the 2020 examination fees has been cancelled with immediate effect. New fees will be announced after further consultations have been made with all the relevant stakeholders. Parents and guardians are therefore advised to continue paying the old fees approved in 2015. Please be advised that deadlines for examination fees payment remain the same.
In her response statement, Ms Nyaradzo Mashayamombe, the leader of Every Child In School Campaign – ECIS welcomed the action by government and said that we remain worried: “What we have just leant from this situation of the exorbitant fees that Zimsec had introduced is that the right to education for children is currently vulnerable despite the constitutional provisions. Why do organisations like ZIMSEC not remain guided by that order? We are therefore now asking the government to immediately scrap altogether the examination fees taking into consideration that currently parents are struggling to even register the children’s examination fees. Should an altogether scrapping not work in the current environment, what must surely happen is the gazetting of the current examination fees for the next five years so that they do not change, bearing in mind that the government is expected to be working towards a complete state funded free basic education system. In line with this, gazetting the current examination fees for the next five years, after which the government will be expected to altogether scrap the examination fees is a logical and sincere thing to do” she said.
Reverend Taylor Nyanhete, the Country Coordinator of Zimbabwe National Coalition of the Rights of the Child said Every Child In School Campaign welcomes this move by the minister but we need guarantees, this shock that we received when fees went up is against the rights of the child and causes parents to be always worrying. It shows our government is no aligning itself to the constitution especially section 75.
By doing this, the government will show citizens that it is committed to Constitution Section 75 which makes the responsibility of the government to ensure provision of basic education.
Tag a life International (TaLI), Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children (ZNCWC), Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ), Mambure Trust, Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ), UDACIZA, Justice for Children (JCT), PROWEB, Female Students Network (FSNT), Forum for African Women Educationalists Zimbabwe (FAWEZI), Research Advocacy Unit, Higher Life Foundation, Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI), Zimbabwe Women In Politics Alliance, Rebuild Sakubva (RESA), World Vision, Issues Pane Nyaya, Katswe Sisterhood, Zimbabwe Alliance, Girls and Women Empowerment Network Trust (GWEN), Zimbabwe Women In Politics Alliance, Shamwari Ye Mwanasikana (SYS) Citizen Participation Trust, Shanduko, Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation, Zimbabwe Activists Alliance, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Parents for Handicapped Children Association. Umzingwane AIDS Network, Hope Alive Child Network, D.P Foundation, Child and Guardian Foundation, Christian Legal Society, Voice of the voiceless – Multiple Foundation, WWT, HOCIC, Progress Trust (Bubi), Impumellelo Trust, Kwa- Foundation Trust, Scripture Union Bulawayo, Cacile Trust, Sinethemba Women and Youth Trust, Vhulindlela Trust, Revival of Hope Trust, Queens Park Development Association, Sir Humphrey Gibbs Centre, Sir Humphrey Gibbs Centre, Young Women, Youth and Adolescents, Sthandiwe Children’s Home, Rozaria Memorial Trust.
Source: Tag a Life International (TaLI)
