Resist, Reject and Report Violence, #RRRV2023
Misprioritized Spending
On 9 February, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Evelyn Ndlovu, told Parliament
that the ministry did not have money to implement free education as it was not allocated enough
money in the 2023 budget. She stated that the ministry had hoped to provide free education, but it
was allocated US$6,3 million which is not enough for the exercise. In 2020, President Mnangagwa
signed into law the Education Amendment Act which compels the State to provide free basic
education in line with provisions of section 27 of the Constitution. Section 27 states that “the state
must take all practical measures to promote free compulsory basic education for children”.
Minister Ndlovu mentioned that the Act must be respected, but it was difficult to implement with
dry coffers. For years, the government has been promising free basic education ,but has failed to
implement the policy. The 2022 global study by World Remit ranked Zimbabwe’s education as one
of the most expensive and six times more than the total average income of an average family
which resulted in thousands of school dropouts. In parliament Hon Josiah Sithole raised the
perennial problem of schoolchildren enrolled under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM)
programme not attending school because most schools want to see proof of payment, which the
parents are not able to provide. In response the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social
Welfare said the BEAM programme has 1 800 000 learners registered on it and the government was
pushing for the funds to be transferred to the schools, so the learners continue to learn.
Recommendations
1. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development must allocate more resources to the
Ministry of Primary and Secondary in line with the Dakar Framework that calls for the
allocation of over 20% of total budget to education.
2. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) must enforce policies that respect
the rights of learners to education. Learners are not responsible for school fees and payment
plans should be worked out with parents and avoid the turning away of learners from school.
February 2023
The Zimbabwe Peace Project Monthly Monitoring Report
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