The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
SOME primary and secondary schools in Manicaland are demanding payment for online lessons in defiance of a Government directive which forbids them from charging school fees without the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s approval, The Manica Post has learnt.
Government recently warned schools to stop demanding fees for the second term, which will only start on July 28.
In response to the long holiday, backyard classrooms have sprouted across the province, thereby putting students, their teachers and families at risk of contracting Covid-19.
Schools across the country closed in March when the Covid-19 lockdown came into effect.
According to the Education Act, authorities should not charge any fee or levy or increase it without the approval of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Manicaland provincial education director, Mr Edward Shumba revealed that they had not received any application for charging the online lessons.
“What they are doing is illegal. The charges for the online lessons need the approval of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“No one should take advantage of the prevailing situation,” said Mr Shumba.
Various schools have been sending messages to parents, advising them to pay for the online lessons.
A message from Marange High School’s headmaster Mr Philip Padhuze reads: “ . . . Marange High welcomes you to this era of e-learning due to coronavirus. Some of our teachers were using WhatsApp to keep our learners busy with exercises, assignments and tests.
“We are now transiting to the use of the virtual classroom (Google classroom) as a teaching/learning tool. This initiative shall begin as soon as all is put in place and in a staggered manner, starting with exam candidates.
“All learners shall be required to be online using an Econet line. You need to open a Gmail account and download Google classroom. To be enrolled on the virtual programme, please pay $1 700 (Form 1-6) into our school account. Log in codes are a secret so they cannot be shared. Any breach will result in immediate de-registration of the learner, besides a possible disciplinary action.”
When contacted for comment, Mr Padhuze confirmed that they had started collecting payments for online lessons from exam class students.
“We will engage parents of other classes as we go,” he said.
However, when asked on why the school is insisting on Econet lines, Mr Padhuze could not give a satisfactory answer.
Mr Shumba said the public must inform authorities when they witness such illegal activities.
“The public needs to give us the exact location of where this is happening so that we can take action. For some reason, people are unwilling to report.”
“As far as we are concerned, schools are closed. All those classes are not sanctioned by the ministry and should cease.”
According to a snap survey conducted by The Manica Post, most teachers are charging US$0,50 or US$1 per day for backyard lessons.
“We expect parents and guardians to be responsible people who take care of their children considering the Covid-19 pandemic. Those who are sending their children to backyard makeshift classrooms are doing so at their own peril,” said Mr Shumba.
He said those breaching the Education Act will face the full wrath of the law.
“Let us understand the situation we find ourselves in. This is a pandemic and we need to be extra careful.
“If people want to rush and create anarchy out of the situation, we will put the students and everyone else at risk,” he said.
