Masvingo residents are calling on the government to intervene following what they call exorbitant hike in school fees.
Residents told Genius Mavhenyengwa, Hevoi FM News reporter that the school uniforms costs have risen to unsustainable levels.
“We are calling on the government to intervene as schools have increased school fees to shocking levels,”said a Masvingo resident.
“Right now we can not afford to purchase school uniforms whose prices have been increased to exorbitant levels.It is high time the government intervenes and sets school fees to affordable levels.
Another resident of Sisk suburb, Josphat Charumbira said:
“It won’t be a surprise if some parents remove their children from boarding schools as they will not be able to afford to pay for the school fees.”
In a recent interview with Hevoi FM News, Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president, Takavafira Zhou also called for government intervention.
“We are calling on the government to revisit the issue of boarding schools whose fees are now ranging from between ZWL$75 000 to ZWL$120 000.What this means is that most parents, particularly teachers who are receiving meagre salaries will not be able to pay school fees,” Zhou said.
He added: “What is more worrisome is the fact that we have some teachers earning as little as ZWL$19 000. How such teachers are expected to be motivated to teach other people’s children in schools where their own children cannot learn by virtue of their poverty remains puzzling.
“Fundamentally, education is a right and not a privilege, and at worst must be accessible and affordable.
A survey has revealed some schools have increased school fees to as high as $ ZW 80 000 per term.Government said schools will open on 7 February for the first term.