Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Moses Mhike has warned school heads against unethical practices, such as demanding full fees in foreign currency, turning away learners for non-payment, and soliciting bribes for placements.
In response to complaints from parents and guardians, Mhike said school fees must be paid in local currency, in accordance with the Secretary’s Circular No. 10 of 2022. <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/stop-arm-twisting-parents-govt-warns-schools/">He said</a>:
<blockquote>
No school should force any parent to pay fees or levies exclusively in foreign currency. Parents are free to pay in any currency of their choice, as Zimbabwe operates under a multi-currency regime.
</blockquote>
Mhike said if fees are pegged in foreign currency for value preservation, parents must be allowed to pay in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate on the day of the transaction.
Regarding school uniforms and stationery, he reiterated that parents are free to purchase these items wherever they find them cheaper, as long as they meet school specifications. Said Mhike:
<blockquote>
Heads of schools and responsible authorities are therefore warned to abide by this directive and refrain from mandating parents to buy uniforms and stationery exclusively at their schools.
</blockquote>
Mhike also said inspectors will be dispatched to schools to ensure compliance with these directives.
Several schools have faced accusations of selling uniforms at exorbitant prices and exclusively demanding school fees in foreign currency.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The government is telling schools to stop asking for fees and uniforms to be paid only in US dollars. Parents can pay in any currency. Schools must follow the rules or face consequences. Inspectors will check that schools are doing the right thing. Some schools have been accused of charging too much for uniforms and demanding foreign currency. Parents can buy uniforms and stationery from anywhere as long as they meet the school's requirements. The government wants schools to follow the rules and not be greedy.

Government Sternly Warns School Heads On USD-Only Fees And Uniforms

The Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) is working with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to address the issue of schools that require parents to purchase uniforms exclusively from them or selected suppliers.
This follows complaints from parents and guardians about inflated prices for uniforms, as well as concerns from small uniform manufacturers who feel excluded from the market.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/ctc-targets-school-uniform-monopolies/">The Chronicle</a> on the sidelines of World Competition Day commemorations in Bulawayo last week, CTC Mergers and Acquisitions Assistant Director Tatenda Zengeni revealed that the majority of schools are involved in this malpractice. Said Zengeni:
<blockquote>
We found out that they have been contravening the Competition Act and we issued a cease and desist order.
However, we found out that this practice is not unique to Warren Park High, but it was also prevalent in the majority of schools in Zimbabwe. So, we have decided to take a holistic approach.
We are engaging with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to try and come up with some kind of regulation that will be communicated to schools, directing them to stop engaging in this kind of anti-competitive practice.
Many times, you realise that when you go to those schools that force you to buy school uniforms from their tuck-shops or their preferred suppliers, the price will be excessive, so that is against the tenets of competition.
We are hoping that very soon we will reach a point where we agree with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and resolve this issue once and for all.
</blockquote>
As the number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involved in school uniform manufacturing continues to grow, forcing parents to purchase uniforms from specific suppliers creates a significant barrier for these small businesses.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Competition and Tariff Commission and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education are working together to stop schools from making parents buy uniforms only from them or selected suppliers. Many parents complained about high prices and small uniform makers felt left out. The CTC found that many schools were breaking the law and issued warnings. They are talking to the Ministry to come up with rules to stop this unfair practice. If parents have to buy from specific suppliers, it hurts small businesses. They want to fix this problem soon.

Competition And Tariff Commission Moves To End School Uniform Monopolies

The Government, through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, has permitted schools to allow learners to wear woollen hats, gloves, and scarves to keep them warm amid plummeting temperatures and a flu outbreak.
This comes after parents and guardians complained that children are suffering due to the harsh cold spell that has swept across the country, with schools refusing to allow pupils to wear warm clothing items not part of their uniforms.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/biting-winter-ministry-okays-woollen-hats-scarves-and-gloves-for-learners/">The Sunday News</a>, the Director of Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro said schools should allow learners to wear woollen hats, scarves and gloves as long as they were in the colour codes of the school uniform. He said:
<blockquote>
Regarding the issue of winter clothing, the ministry recognises that the current cold spell and flu outbreak pose serious health risks, especially for young children.
While school uniforms typically do not include items like woollen hats and gloves these may be worn as long as they are the colour codes of the school uniform.
</blockquote>
In Bulawayo, some schools were reportedly instructing learners to remove their woollen hats and gloves at the school gates.
Linda Matanda, a parent who spoke to The Sunday News said she was hurt when her child was told to remove her woollen hat and gloves at the gate. She said:
<blockquote>
My child goes to a local primary school on the outskirts of the Central Business District in Bulawayo, I was so hurt when I dropped her off and noticed her removing her woollen hat and gloves saying they are not allowed to wear them in the schoolyard.
It was disturbing, especially with the harsh weather Bulawayo has been experiencing. The school argues the accessories were not part of the school.
</blockquote>
Thandolwenkosi Nkomo president of the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Relations (ZIPR) said:
<blockquote>
The discontent around winter uniforms highlights communication gaps existing in schools. If school authorities communicate clearly with parents on what is expected of students and also allow parents to provide feedback on grey areas, we would not be in a position where parents are concerned about learners not being allowed to wear gloves, hats and scarves.
An indicator of good public relations in schools is the presence of open and genuine dialogue between parents and schools so that they can come together and find common ground especially when it comes to the health and welfare of learners.
</blockquote>
He urged schools to improve how they communicate with parents so that parents do not end up venting out on social media which then soils the image and reputation of the schools.
Last week, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) forecasted very cold morning conditions and advised that vulnerable members of society should be kept warm. It said:
<blockquote>
Respiratory-related illnesses tend to increase in spread during this period, for more details please consult your local health specialist.
</blockquote>
Dress warmly, and ensure vulnerable members of society are kept warm both early morning and late evening.
Chances of catching a cough, influenza or a cold, increase during this winter period. Please consult your local health practitioner for any health-related ailments.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Okays Woolen Hats, Scarves And Gloves For Learners

The government has cautioned schools against pressuring parents to buy uniforms exclusively from them, especially if there are more affordable options available.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says while schools have been authorized to make and sell uniforms, they cannot mandate parents to buy them from the school or specific suppliers if the quality and standards are met by other alternatives.
According to Mr Edward Shumba, the Provincial Education Director for Manicaland, parents are at liberty to purchase uniforms from sources other than the school or designated suppliers. The Manica Post quotes him as saying:
<blockquote>
The Ministry’s position is very clear for government schools; they cannot fix a specific supplier of uniforms and must not have a monopoly. While they are allowed to produce and sell uniforms, they should let parents know of other sellers so that guardians can choose where to buy from at affordable prices. It is illegal to force parents to buy uniforms strictly from schools.
</blockquote>
Mr Shumba stated that schools that disregard this government directive should be reported to the relevant authorities for intervention.
In March, Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo declared that it was against the law for schools to compel parents or guardians to purchase uniforms from them at market rates, taking into account cost benefits.
This was after complaints from the public that some schools were obliging parents to purchase uniforms from the school or particular vendors.
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Government Warns Schools Against Forcing Parents To Buy Uniforms Exclusively From Them

The Government says it is illegal for schools to force parents to buy uniforms from them.
This comes after parents across the country have complained that schools are forcing them to purchase expensive uniforms.
In some cases, learners whose parents buy uniforms from shops are denied admission by schools.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister, Edgar Moyo, said parents are free to buy school uniforms wherever they find them affordable. He was quoted by <a href="https://cite.org.zw/illegal-for-schools-to-force-parents-to-buy-uniforms-from-them-govt/">CITE</a> as saying:
<blockquote>
Children being forced to buy uniforms by schools is illegal. We have a free market economy and parents are supposed to buy wherever they have a cost advantage.
</blockquote>
Moyo acknowledged that the Ministry was aware that certain schools and school heads were forcing parents to buy uniforms from the schools. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes indeed, it has happened and some of it has been brought to our attention and we have taken action against such schools and headmasters.
No school should force children to buy uniforms from them nor should they create a situation where if you have not bought a uniform from them, then you have not gotten a place. That is not allowed, it is illegal.
</blockquote>
Moyo urged parents and guardians to report names of schools that required them to buy student uniforms at their schools so the ministry could take action. He said:
<blockquote>
We would like to get evidence of that and even the names of such schools so that we can then take corrective measures.
</blockquote>
In January this year, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) wrote to the Goromonzi High School headmaster demanding that he allows two pupils into the school despite their failure to buy uniforms sold by the school.
According to ZLHR, Goromonzi High School said it is its policy that all pupils buy uniforms from the school and those bought even from renowned retailers such as Enbee Stores are not accepted.
ZLHR was representing the father of 2 minor children whose children were barred from attending lessons for not buying uniforms from the school even though they paid school fees in full.
The human rights lawyers demanded that the school’s headmaster unconditionally allow the minor children to attend lessons and permit them to purchase uniforms from a retailer of their choice.
In the event that the Headmaster failed to comply with the demands, ZLHR said they will immediately petition the High Court on an urgent basis seeking an order to compel the school authorities to allow the minor children to pursue their education at Goromonzi High, with the headmaster bearing the cost of the litigation.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Illegal For Schools To Force Parents To Buy Uniforms From Them - Minister

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says schools are allowed to manufacture and sell uniforms to learners.
Schools, however, should not force parents and guardians to buy uniforms from them if there are cheaper options. He said:
This was said by the director for Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro, in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/dont-force-parents-to-buy-uniforms-at-school/">State media.</a> Ndoro said:
<blockquote>
Schools are allowed to produce their own uniforms and sell them to the parents, it is very correct.
The uniforms have to be affordable and cheaper than the open market so that parents have access to them.
We also said the uniforms must meet the right quality, colour schemes and branding in order for them to be sold by schools.
What is wrong is then forcing the parents to buy strictly from the schools.
They must not be forced to buy where they do not want and where it is expensive.
</blockquote>
In January this year, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) wrote to the Goromonzi High School headmaster demanding that he allows two pupils into the school despite their failure to buy uniforms sold by the school.
The human rights lawyers were representing the father of two minors who were barred from attending lessons for not buying uniforms from the school even though they paid school fees in full.
The lawyers said Goromonzi High School was selling its uniforms at exorbitant prices, yet they were of similar quality to those sold by shops.

"Schools Are Allowed To Produce And Sell Uniforms"

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says most schools are complying with the laid down fees review and payment guidelines.
Following an outcry by parents and guardians, the Ministry last week sent investigation teams around the country to clamp down on schools that were reportedly charging fees exclusively in foreign currency.
The country’s monetary regulations allow a multi-currency system even though some government services, such as passports, are available exclusively in foreign currency.
Some schools had joined the bandwagon and were charging fees exclusively in foreign currency, with some using an exchange of ZWL$2 000: US$1.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro said schools have complied with the guidelines. He said:
<blockquote>
Regarding fees payment, most of the schools have complied with our guidelines.
Headmasters have also complied. They are not compelling parents to buy uniforms from schools’ approved suppliers. Guardians are being allowed to seek alternative suppliers.
</blockquote>
Heads of Government schools who increase school fees without following the guidelines will be deemed to have committed acts of misconduct and will be liable to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal, while private schools risk being deregistered for the same offence. | <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/schools-comply-with-govt-order-on-fees/">The Herald</a>

'Schools Comply With Govt Order On Fees, Uniforms'

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has warned school heads they will be charged with an act of misconduct if they force parents and guardians to buy school uniforms from the schools’ preferred suppliers.
Some schools are reportedly exclusively supplying uniforms to their learners or forcing parents to buy them from their preferred suppliers who are presumably their associates.
The Ministry’s spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said uniforms can be bought anywhere other than the school. Said Ndoro:
<blockquote>
If a head of a school defies the government and the permanent secretary’s directive, they would be charged with an act of misconduct.
Pursuant to the public pronouncement by the permanent secretary on 9 January 2018, I want to reiterate once more that parents/guardians are free to purchase uniforms wherever they find it cheaper in line with the specifications and colour codes of the school.
Therefore, the ministry’s position with regard to the purchase of uniforms remains unchanged.
</blockquote>
On Tuesday, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/headmaster-threatened-with-lawsuit-over-school-uniforms/">the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) wrote to the Goromonzi High School headmaster</a> demanding that he admits two pupils who had not bought their uniforms from the school.
The headmaster had barred the two Form One siblings from attending lessons for buying uniforms from shops, even though they had fully paid their school fees.
ZLHR says the school is selling its uniforms at exorbitant prices.
According to ZLHR, the uniforms at the school are being sold at US$643 compared to US$325 being sold at various stores.
The human rights lawyers demanded that the school’s headmaster unconditionally allow the minor children to attend lessons and permit them to purchase uniforms from a retailer of their choice.
In the event that the Headmaster fails to comply with the demands, ZLHR said they will immediately petition the High Court on an urgent basis seeking an order to compel the school authorities to allow the minor children to pursue their education at Goromonzi High, with the headmaster bearing the cost of the litigation.

Govt Warns School Heads Over Uniforms

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has written to the Goromonzi High School headmaster demanding that he allows two pupils into the school despite their failure to buy uniforms sold by the school.
According to ZLHR, Goromonzi High School says it is its policy that all pupils buy uniforms from the school and those bought even from renowned retailers such as Enbee Stores are not accepted.
ZLHR is representing the father of 2 minor children whose children were barred from attending lessons for not buying uniforms from the school even though they paid school fees in full.
The human rights lawyers argue that Goromonzi High School is selling its uniforms at exorbitant prices, yet they are of similar quality to those sold by shops.
ZLHR has demanded that the school’s headmaster unconditionally allow the minor children to attend lessons and permit them to purchase uniforms from a retailer of their choice.
In the event that the Headmaster fails to comply with the demands, ZLHR said they will immediately petition the High Court on an urgent basis seeking an order to compel the school authorities to allow the minor children to pursue their education at Goromonzi High, with the headmaster bearing the cost of the litigation. ZLHR said in a statement:
<blockquote>
Because the right to education is sacrosanct, we have on behalf of a parent challenged an arbitrary directive compelling parents/guardians or students to buy exorbitantly priced uniforms sold exclusively by authorities at Goromonzi High School.
Our lawyer [Tinashe Chinopfukutwa] issued an ultimatum to authorities at Goromonzi High School demanding that they rescind their decision of barring 2 minor children from attending lessons after opting not to purchase exorbitantly-priced uniforms sold solely by the school.
The Headmaster at Goromonzi High School in Mash East province recently advised the father of 2 minor children that his children, who in December 2022, were accepted for enrolment to commence Form 1 studies at the school in January 2023, would not be admitted into the school if they had not purchased school uniforms, which were being sold exclusively by the school.
In response, the minor children’s father told the Headmaster that he was prepared to purchase school uniforms from Enbee Stores, the country’s leading school wear supplier, where similar school uniforms were being sold for about US$325 as compared to US$643 charged by Goromonzi High School.
The Headmaster totally indicated to the minor children’s father that if he purchases or otherwise acquires school uniforms anywhere else except buying the exorbitantly priced school uniforms being sold by the school, his children will not be admitted into the school.
To demonstrate this, school authorities denied allocating the 2 minor children a class or completing the admission forms even though their father had paid the school fees in full.
This compelled [Chinopfukutwa] of the [Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights], who on Monday wrote a letter protesting against the conduct of the Headmaster at Goromonzi High School and arguing that it was unlawful.
In his letter, which was also copied to Hon. Evelyn Ndlovu, of [the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education], Chinopfukutwa told the Headmaster that his decision to bar the school children access to learning on the basis that they did not buy expensive school uniforms solely from the school despite the fact that they had fully paid up the school fees and tuition constitutes a violation of the minor children’s right to education as provided for in terms of section 75 of the Constitution.
Moreover, Chinopfukutwa said the Headmaster’s decision also violates section 4(2)(a) of the Education Act, which prohibits the refusal of admission of any child to school.
The human rights lawyer protested that the Headmaster’s decision to insist that the minor children can only be admitted into school after they have bought exorbitantly priced school uniforms solely from the school is grossly unreasonable such that no other sensible person acting on the same facts and circumstances would arrive at the same decision.
Chinopfukutwa told the Headmaster that his insistence is not based on the quality or lack thereof of the uniforms from Enbee Stores but rather what he termed to be school policy, which demands that school uniforms must only be bought from the school, even when there are cheaper and affordable alternatives from reputable school uniform retailers.
He charged that the Headmaster’s insistence and the supposed school policy is grossly unreasonable and extortionate and demanded that he, by lunchtime on Monday 9 January 2023, unconditionally allow the minor children to attend lessons and permit them to purchase and or obtain school uniforms from Enbee Stores or any other outlet or source.
Chinopfukutwa said in the event that the Headmaster fails to comply with the demands outlined above, he will immediately petition the High Court on an urgent basis seeking an order to compel the school authorities to allow the minor children to pursue their education exploits at Goromonzi High School and the costs of such litigation would be borne by the Headmaster.
</blockquote>

Headmaster Threatened With Lawsuit Over School Uniforms

Girl’s High School Harare (GHSH) has angered scores of parents and guardians after it reportedly forced them to buy uniforms from its preferred suppliers but then failed to avail them on time, <a href="https://www.hmetro.co.zw/parents-clash-with-school-over-uniforms/">reported H-Metro</a>.
Parents who spoke to the publication said they paid for the uniforms and visited the boutique that supplies the school and is believed to be owned by some education officials but could not get the attire. 
Some Form One pupils were “humiliated” as they had to go to school wearing attire different from others. Said a disgruntled parent:
<blockquote>
The school must allow competent shops to sell their uniforms than humiliate our children in this way.
We paid the full amount on time, but the school failed to provide the uniforms, which they forced us to buy from them.
We failed to attend church on Sunday waiting for the uniforms at the school’s boutique where we were directed to buy them. We waited the whole day, but nothing came.
We are appealing to relevant authorities to consider banning schools from selling uniforms since there are licensed shops that are good at supplying them.
</blockquote>
One of the GHSH’s preferred boutique workers told H-Metro that the tailors were working very hard to complete the orders. She said:
<blockquote>
The owner of the shop has gone to the factory located at Lyton Industries to push tailors to double their speed.
Some angry parents went with her to the factory. More than 70 parents and guardians came to this shop, but our tailors are yet to finish 60 uniforms.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, a petition circulating seeking permission to stop the school from supplying uniforms was being signed by a number of disgruntled parents and guardians.
Girl’s High School Harare changed its uniform in 2020 and since then, it has reportedly been failing to supply uniforms on time.
School authorities across the country have in the past been accused of changing uniforms will-nilly and then cashing in on the changes by using their associates to supply the new attire, in some cases at exorbitant prices.

Parents Clash With School Over New Uniforms

The Competition and Tariff Commission (CTC) is investigating schools for allegedly breaching the competition Act by selling and distributing school uniforms.
This follows an outcry by parents who have been forced to buy school uniforms by some schools authorities at exorbitant prices.
Some schools compelled parents to buy uniforms at the school and were reported to be demanding payment in US dollars only.
The prices charged by the schools were triple or more compared to those being charged by local uniform retailers in the CBD.
The Commission’s Senior Research Officer, Tatenda Zengeni said what the schools are doing is wrong. Said Zengeni:
<blockquote>The alleged practice by schools may deprive parents and guardians of their right to choice.
Uniform retailers say they have been pushed out of business as most schools in the country are now selling uniforms direct to the parents.</blockquote>
Retailers have also bemoaned the new development saying their business has been crippled as parents no longer buy uniforms from them. Auxillia, a retailer, said:
<blockquote>The move by the schools to sell uniforms direct to the parents has crippled our business. They sell the uniforms at such high prices than us and force the parents to buy them at the school.
I am a parent, I sell uniforms, but I was required to buy uniforms for my child at her school.</blockquote>
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said parents are allowed to buy uniforms from their own suppliers.
<h4>More: <a href="https://ztn.co.zw/stream/2021/03/zimbabwe-schools-probed-over-uniform-sales/">ZTN</a></h4>

Competition & Tariff Commission Probes Schools Over Uniform Sales

Sylvester Mashayamombe, the education director for Mashonaland West said that no pupil should be turned away from schools for failing to wear school uniform.  He said that uniforms were not compulsory as there was no law forcing pupils to wear uniform.
Mashayamombe said:
<blockquote>It is not government policy for schools to sell school uniforms to parents … attaching places for learning to buying school uniforms at schools is diabolical.
<div class="code-block code-block-3"> In fact, there is no statutory instrument that forces children to wear school uniforms. It is the idea of parents</div>
</blockquote>
<div class="code-block code-block-3">Mashayamombe also castigated Headmaster who forced parents to buy uniforms at their schools as a precondition for securing Form 1 places.</div>

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