The government has reiterated its policy that no schoolchild should be turned away from class for failing to pay school fees, while also outlining mechanisms schools can use to ensure parents and guardians meet their financial obligations.
In a recent appearance before Parliament, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Tererayi Moyo, emphasised that the responsibility for paying school fees rests solely with parents or guardians, not the pupils.
He stated that sending children home violates their constitutional right to education as enshrined in Section 75 of the Constitution.
The Minister cited Statutory Instrument 13 of 2025, which explicitly states: “No pupil shall be excluded from school for non-payment of any form of school fees or levies. Parents and guardians of pupils shall pay school fees and levies on or before the opening of schools.”
Under this Statutory Instrument, excluding a child from school for non-payment of fees constitutes misconduct on the part of any school head or school authority and is a chargeable offence. The Ministry said it maintains continuous monitoring through district and provincial education officers to ensure compliance.
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Minister Moyo further noted that the government can invoke Statutory Instrument 1 of 2000, which criminalizes the act of turning away students, allowing school heads to be charged for violating a child’s rights.
Responding to concerns that the policy encourages non-payment and undermines school operations, Minister Moyo outlined several lawful mechanisms schools can use to compel parents to pay.
He said school authorities and School Development Committees are encouraged to issue written reminders to parents and guardians about their financial obligations.
It is also permissible, he added, for school authorities to engage debt collectors to recover outstanding fees. The Minister cited Belvedere Primary School as an example of success, noting that the institution achieved nearly a 100% collection rate after hiring debt collectors.
The Minister stressed that while the government is committed to protecting every child’s fundamental right to education through the non-exclusion policy, this does not absolve parents of their financial responsibilities.
He encouraged those facing financial difficulties to negotiate and honour payment plans with school authorities.
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