Bulawayo says to keep school fees at US$30

Source: NewsDay Zimbabwe
Author: Silas Nkala

BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) says it is likely to maintain the US$30 fees per term for council schools in the city next year.

The fees were approved in April this year for the 2023 school calendar.

This year, BCC resolved to index all its service delivery charges in foreign currency, which when paid in local currency would be pegged at the prevailing rate of that time.

Latest council minutes on Education: 2023 fees for council schools state that housing and community services director Dictor Khumalo reported to the Health, Housing and Education Committee that BCC last approved the fees payable at its schools on April 6, 2022.

"These fees were also endorsed by the parent Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on May 10, 2022. In line with the proposed standstill budget, it was proposed that the currently approved fees as at May 10, which were equivalent to US$30 as per the interbank rate of $165,99 to the US dollar, be maintained," the minutes read.

"The fees would be payable in any of the approved currencies at the interbank rate of the day equivalent to US$30. This would ensure that the fees would maintain their value. The current problem where parents did not pay fees until the fees were meaningless would also be addressed by maintaining the US dollar value of the approved fees."

Council minutes said it was proposed that school fees arrears for the past terms be pegged at the currently approved rate of US$30 per term.

"It was hoped that this will ensure that parents honour their obligations as and when they are due. The arrears when paid eventually will still maintain the purchasing power unlike in the current situation.

"In view of the fore-going, the Health, Housing and Education Committee recommended to the committee that council fixe its school fees on the basis of the US dollar; that the currently approved fees equivalent to US$30 as at May 10, 2022 be maintained; that all previous years/terms arrears be paid at the current rate of US$30 per term for every term that is in arrears and these be payable to the Zimdollar obtaining rate of the day," the minutes read.

As at October 2022, BCC had noted that ratepayers owed council over $19 billion, which had skyrocketed from $6 billion in the past three months.

The minutes state that councillor Frank Javangwe noted with concern that customer debts to council were rapidly accumulating.

"He recalled that in 2018, council incentivised residents, which encouraged them to settle their bills. He was of the opinion that the same motivational strategies be used," the minutes further read.