Despite a government directive barring schools from turning away learners over unpaid fees, a number of institutions have taken matters into their own hands, sending home learners who haven’t fully paid their dues—a move that has sparked outrage among parents and education advocates.
The backlash comes amid a worsening economic crisis that has left many families unable to meet the cost of schooling.
One such institution at the centre of the storm is Mpumelelo Primary School in Bulawayo, where parents are reportedly being forced to collect gate passes only upon full payment of fees—a condition that effectively bars underprivileged learners from accessing education.
A memo seen by AfroGazette News from the school shows the headmaster summoned parents to a meeting to “discuss” the issuance of gate passes.
Since the beginning of the term, only learners with these passes have been allowed into class. Those without them are left with no choice but to return home.
A similar situation is unfolding in Mutare, where St Dominic’s High School has also come under fire for denying access to students who haven’t fully settled their fees including those who’ve made partial payments or offered payment plans.
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Insiders at both schools, who spoke to AfroGazette News on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, painted a grim picture.
“My issue is with the education of children, because it matters. The school is sending children back home just because they haven’t paid school fees.
“What pains me most is that even those who’ve paid more than half of the fees are still being chased away,” said a whistleblower at St Dominic’s High.
“The headmaster, the Catholic priest in charge, and some SDC members are at the centre of this. They’re rude and dismissive.
“If the money was used to develop the school, maybe we’d understand but most of it seems to benefit them personally,” the insider added.
At Mpumelelo, a parent described the headmistress as “dictatorial”, accusing her of bullying struggling families into submission.
The unfolding crisis has caught the attention of education stakeholders, with the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) president, Obert Masaraure, delivering a scathing indictment of government inaction.
“As we predicted, schools are once again opening to chaos—chaos born out of policy inconsistencies, neglect, corruption, and incompetence.
“The government is responsible for providing State-funded education in line with Section 75 of the Constitution,” Masaraure said.
“Issuing instructions to heads not to send back learners is cynical, cruel, and hypocritical. Public schools don’t operate on air.
“Materials needed for learning are not procured by government threats or empty BEAM promises.”
Masaraure called for nationwide protests through “Save Our Education” committees, urging citizens to demand fair teacher wages and increased public education funding.
“It is unacceptable that 50,000 learners dropped out of school in one calendar year. It is angering that nearly 3 million potential learners are out of school.
“Teachers themselves can’t afford to send their own children to the schools where they teach—it’s a mockery,” he added.
However, efforts to get a comment from Taungana Ndoro, Director of Communications in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to questions sent to him.
As schools continue to defy government orders with apparent impunity, thousands of children remain stranded—caught between economic hardship and a public education system in apparent freefall.
