GOVERNMENT has cracked the whip on provincial education directors (PEDs) ordering them to strictly implement the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) programme amid submission delays of beneficiary lists by some school heads.
Primary and Secondary Education permanent secretary Moses Mhike made the order in a letter dated January 7 addressed to all the 10 PEDs.
In a letter referenced, Irregularities raised by the public in implementation of Beam by school heads, the top government official ordered PEDs to deal with school heads who are sabotaging the programme.
“We have observed with concern that some school heads have been wrongfully denying Beam candidates the opportunity to sit for public examination due to delays in the disbursement of Beam funds,” Mhike wrote.
“In addition, it has been noted that some Beam beneficiaries face some challenges in accessing public examination results and such malpractice is a breach of ministry policy on the Beam operational manual policy.”
He added: “As heads of provinces, are being requested to take stern action against school heads who are practising such tendencies.
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“You are being reminded to diligently monitor the implementation of the Beam programme in strict adherence to Beam operation manual circular 3 of 2019, number 6 of 2024 and 7 of 2024.”
He further explained that the Department of Social Welfare has raised concern over delays.
“The ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has also highlighted that late Beam forms submitted by some schools heads are contributing to delays of the Beam Management Unit,” the letter read in part.
In a leaked memo, Hurungwe education inspector Edward Gwanzura summoned 24 school heads over incomplete forms late in December.
“May the following schools come and collect Beam forms at Hurungwe district office and submit to Social Welfare after some corrections. You need to put ZiG bank statement and ZiG account numbers.This is the third time reminding you of the same issue" read the memo signed by one Zvarumbira, the district remedial tutor.
According to Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube at least three out of 10 Zimbabwe learners are under the Beam facility, a programme meant to cater for educational needs of the underprivileged.
Ncube said approximately 4,5 million primary and secondary school learners in the country or 30% are under Beam.
However, government has been struggling to pay outstanding amounts for the programme amid reports that schools had not received ZiG57 million.
Beam is a government programme introduced in 2001 to pay tuition, examination fees and levies for underprivileged learners.