Posted on 21 June 2013
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) will be holding one
public meeting this weekend at Mpopoma Hall in ward 9. The meeting, to be held
on Sunday (23 June) from 9am to 12pm will delve on the contentious issue of
chasing of children away from school over the failure of their parents to pay
fees. It will also address issues to do with the operations of School
Development Committees (SDCs) and procedures for coming up with levies and
increasing tuition fees. The meeting will bring together officials from the
ministry of education, school heads, SDC members and parents to map out
strategies to iron out issues affecting education in the ward. Bulawayo
province director of education, Mr Dan Moyo will be there to respond to
concerns from residents.
Residents across Bulawayo have previously expressed dismay that
school heads were chasing children whose parents fail to pay fees away from
school despite a ministerial directive prohibiting that. Residents have also
lamented the issue as an indication that school heads are not in touch with
reality as they do not realise that parents have difficulty settling fees at
once due to economic challenges in the country. Parents have often called for
payment arrangements to be made as opposed to denying children access to class.
School heads on the other hand have argued that schools need money to operate
and provide quality education hence children who have not paid fees have to be
sent home to compel their parents or guardians to pay.
The meeting in Mpopoma will thus provide residents in the area with
an opportunity to discuss these contentious issues with the Bulawayo education
director and the heads of schools in the ward. The meeting is being held in
line with BPRA’s belief that societal problems can be ironed out through rationale
debate leading to common positions on topical issues. It is also in line with
the association’s quest to create a culture of transparency and accountability
in the operations of service providers, government entities and public
officials.
Regards
Information
Department
Bulawayo Progressive
Residents Association
Bus.
Tel: +263 9 61196
Cell:
+263 772 516 729
Website:
www.bulawayoresidents.org
Blog: bprainfo.blogspot.com
