The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
The majority of schools charging fees and levies in foreign currency are paying their ancillary staff in local currency, a move that has put School Development Committees on a collision course with demotivated workers who are demanding a slice of the cake, The Manica Post has established.
It has also been established that although National Employment Councils (NECs) regulating the sector have their Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) in foreign currency, most schools are taking advantage of Statutory Instrument (SI) SI 185 of 2020 to pay the equivalent of the agreed amounts in local currency.
This has created tension within the sector, with ancillary staff that include administration employees, grounds men and canteen staff accusing SDCs of being greedy.
All this is coming as schools are preparing to open for the Second Term on Tuesday.
SDC members who were interviewed claimed that the forex being collected from students is being channelled towards the acquisition of critical assets and infrastructure.
A well-placed source in the NEC — Welfare and Educational Institutions for church-run and independent schools who spoke on condition of anonymity said though its latest CBA is in US dollars, most schools cannot afford to pay their support staff in that currency.
“The CBA is set in USD and schools can pay workers in either hard currency or its bank rate equivalent in terms of SI 185 of 2020.
“For Government and council-run schools, the CBA is denominated in local currency, hence if a school chooses to peg fees in USD, workers will still be paid in local currency as that is the legal position,” said the source.
Mr Denford Chigweshe, the Manicaland regional officer for NECWEI, which covers independent, private trusts schools, mission boarding schools, private colleges, mission day schools, rural day schools and private ECDs, said their CBA is denominated in USD, but employers can pay in a currency of their choice.
Mr Chigweshe said all schools in the province are paying salaries in local currency.
“Where the employer collects fees in USD, you would ordinarily expect all their expenses, including payment of salaries for the ancillary staff, to be in USD. However, while our CBA is denominated in USD, the employer is allowed to pay in foreign currency or its equivalent in line with SI 185 of 2020.
“Our understanding is that nearly all schools in Manicaland are paying salaries in local currency despite some of them charging their fees and levies in USD. Although this is a bit unfair, the local currency is legal tender. The fact that the employer is getting foreign currency is irrelevant.
“However, it becomes an issue if the source of the local currency to pay the salaries is not clear as some of the schools are sourcing the local currency from the black market. The challenge also arises when the employees are paid in USD, but the employer remits statutory obligations in local currency. In that case they will have a case to answer,” said Mr Chigweshe.
National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) president, Mr Arthur Maphosa, said parents have the right to pay in local currency as it is legal tender.
“I do not think the schools are strictly taking foreign currency only. It could be that parents are paying using a currency of their choice. Most parents are paying the equivalent of the USD fees in local currency, thereby making it difficult for schools to pay their ancillary staff in forex.
“There should be a clearer position between the ministry and the schools on this matter. If the ministry approves fees pegged against the USD, they should go further and clarify how support staff should be paid,” said Mr Maphosa.
The Manica Post also understands that one of the schools in the province, John Cowie, which has presented the ministry with a test case to receipt fees in USD, is paying all its workers in that currency.
John Cowie day learners pay US$50, while borders pay US$330.
The head, Mr Garikayi Nyawo in his position paper to the ministry, said they must be authorised to budget in USD since suppliers are refusing to take local currency and are insisting on payments in foreign currency.
Acting Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Richard Gabaza, requested for time to establish the facts on the ground.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Mr Taungana Ndoro said it is permissible for schools to charge fees in foreign currency, although parents should always be given the option to pay in local currency.
He, however, said remuneration of workers is under the purview of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare.
During a recent tour of Mavhudzi High School, Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, said parents have the right to pay in a currency of their choice since the country has a multi-currency basket.
