It is not government policy for teachers to demand money for extra lessons from parents, a Cabinet minister has said.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told Parliament last week that it is criminal for teachers to demand payment for extra lessons.
Responding to a question from Senator Omega Sipani-Hungwe in the Senate on Thursday, Mutsvangwa said:
The other issue of teachers demanding money for extra lessons, I think this is now a criminal activity because that is not allowed. This is not their mandate and not what they are supposed to be doing.
We can never deprive children of the opportunity to learn, then we have teachers who do not teach — that is unacceptable because our children are supposed to be learning.
Minister Mutsvangwa, speaking in her capacity as Leader of Governemnt business in the Senate, added:
If there are teachers who are getting into class and not doing anything, I am sure that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has inspectors amongst them.
I think it is a report that should be brought forward so that such characters are dealt with.
We expect those who are supposed to teach to teach.
Reports indicate that the poorly-paid teachers are demanding between US$10 to US$20 per learner for extra lessons.