All Souls Mission SDC Exposed?
9 January 2020
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Dear Editor

The School Development Committee (SDC) at All Souls Mission School in Mutoko has been exposed after it has emerged that no school has applied for an upward review of fees and the Government through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has not approved any fees increase ahead of the first term opening next week.

The SDC led by Chairperson,Mrs Wadzanayi Kanyuchi had told parents and guardian that the Ministry had approved fees for 2020 from $2000 Zimbabwe dollars to about $7700 Zimbabwe dollars.

What surprised parents was that there were no papers to show from the Permanent Secretary’s office which pointed to the effect. Government has reiterated it will not tolerate waywardness in the education sector, where
schools are proposing massive hikes in fees.

While most schools have hinted at fees increases, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Ambassador Cain Mathema last Friday said no school had made a formal application.

He said schools wishing to increases fees should confine the figure to a maximum of 20 percent of the current amount.

“We have been clear even in the statements that we have made before.Every school should first come to the ministry to apply before they increase school fees, which is the procedure. We will not tolerate lawlessness in education,” said Ambassador Mathema.

It still needs to be heard how the All Souls Mission SDC had reached to such a huge figure without the consent of the education authorities. The current fee before a massive hike for a Form One pupil was $2040 Zimbabwe dollars and $2070 Zimbabwe dollars for those doing Advanced level.

On Saturday, a handful of parents and guardians were seen at the Roman Catholic Cathedral along Simon Muzenda Street in Harare where there were carrying a ‘clearance process’ which is usually done by the school before opening of each term.

Mrs Kanyuchi who usually lead the process was absent and rumours which were doing circles was that parents had planned to ‘impeach’ her and undress here for causing commotion at the school among other things.

The Deputy Chair, referred as Mr Mubaiwa and committee member,
a one Mr Chidzero were seen trying to organize everything in her absence cheering parents to pay fees in full.

“The committee headed by the chairperson must be relieved of its duties immediately; we thank it for whatever it has done for the school, we want the one that plans with parents for the betterment of the school”, a parent said.

At the venue the school Bursar, Mr Sebastian Nyandoro told parents to pay $5000 Zimbabwe dollars upfront before getting a clearance which he said another $2000 would be paid through a payment plan with the School Head Mr Felix Shoko after one had reached him through his mobile phone.

However, Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (ZIMTA) chief executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu and Zimbabwe Schools Development associations/ Committees Secretary-general Mr Everisto Jongwe said while schools were following procedures, Government was taking long to approve those proposed fees increases.

The Principal Director of Primary, Secondary and Non-formal education, Mr Peter Muzawazi said the Ministry is in the process of assessing applications for fee increases.

He said after assessing the applications the Ministry will be able to come up with a proper subsidy.

Mr Muzawazi said for the Pernanent Secretary to approve the request by schools, there should be audited accounts showing how the previous funds for the school was used and also parents would have met to agree on the new fees.

It is yet to be seen whether All Souls Mission and other schools around the country are going to defy the Government directive of not increasing fees and hike the old fees by 20 percent.

“The Government through the education sector should help us out from vultures such as SDC who siphon monies from parents in the pretext that they want to develop schools yet some end up converting the funds for their own use or making deals with school authorities.

“Most of the parents are civil servants and ordinary people, where do you think we can get such amount; they should show remorse and agree with parents on a forum than to be passive. Taking a child to school is just basic, so why making massive fees hike”, queried another parent, AmaiBhobha.

Parents with children that go to All Souls School are also worried with the way the school has been communicating to them.

“We were blocked from the school WhatsApp platform which was used by the SDC to ‘rule’ and pass decision. It’s not proper for a school to do such behavior. The school should use the platform to communicate issues that would have been agreed on to parents.

“We do not condone the situation whereby the SDC use the platform to abuse and victimise parents, they should take note and come to order before we report them to the police”, urged another parent.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa during the 13 th monthly National Environment Cleaning Dayheld at Kuwadzana 2 Shopping Centre in Harare said the Government would crack the whip on schools that had increased fees without approval.

“From what I understand, the minister said the fees had not been increased, but we will soon send out inspectors to schools to investigate the matter, but in Government schools, we have not increased fees,” he said.

Acting Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Kirsty Coventry last month told Parliament that schools were not allowed to increase their fees by more than 20 percent without Government approval.

Father Aaron Kamusekera who is the administrator of the Roman Catholic school could not be reached for comment and way forward as he is said to be currently in Italy where he is studying.

However, some schools, especially boarding schools, have reportedly increased their fees to between $10 000 and $12 000 for Form Ones, while some private schools are demanding foreign currency.