GOVERNMENT has dismissed a suggestion by the World Bank to include uniforms and textbooks in the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam), NewsDay can report.
Beam, albeit underfunded, is a social welfare programme whereby government pays tuition fees for disadvantaged and orphaned children. And because of poor funding Beam learners are frequently sent away by school heads due to school fees arrears.
In its Zimbabwe Gender Assessment report released recently, the Wolrd Bank also suggested that government should consider expanding the Beam package to include children with disabilities.
It also called on authorities to strengthen the science, technology, engineering and maths programmes by targeting more girls to improve enrolment in technical disciplines at higher and tertiary levels.
However, Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson, Toungana Ndoro dismissed the report saying government will not be advised on how to implement State-funded programmes.
“We are not going to be told how we are implementing our State-funded education. We have ways, policies and means by which we are doing it as the Government of Zimbabwe,” Ndoro said.
“We cannot listen to opinions from those who do not stay in Zimbabwe and we are not going to be coerced into doing things the way they want us to do.
“We have our priorities which we are taking on board and that is to make sure that we provide every Zimbabwean with quality, relevant, accessible and wholesome education.”
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Ndoro said the government managed to pay Beam funds for the first term, with the remaining second-term and third-term funds still being processed.
“All schools received their Beam funds for 2024, the first term. They received their funds. We are working as government to ensure that in the second term, they are also receiving Beam funds.
“Remember, we have a tripartite committee that involves the Primary and Secondary Education, the Finance, Economic Development and Investment and Promotion and the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputy ministers.
“So, the agreement is that every term, all schools that have children on Beam are receiving their funds. For the first term, that has already been done,” he said.
Ndoro issued a stern warning to schools that are sending students on Beam home because of fees arrears.
“No child on Beam should ever be sent away from school for non-payment of fees. It is not just that. No child in the whole country is supposed to be chased away from school for non-payment of fees.
“Remember, the contract for school fees payment is between the school and the parent. It’s not between the school and the pupil. So, pupils are supposed to continue receiving their education, while the school and the parents work out modalities of making sure that they pay the school fees.”
He, however, called on parents to prioritise payment of school fees so that schools can properly function.
“We have got a cocktail of disciplinary measures that we are going to bring to any heads of schools,” Ndoro added.
