Press Release - Children Should Not be Chased from School

Date:               4 September 2012

Contact:         Emmanuel Ndlovu

                        Programmes and Advocacy Manager

                        Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)

BULAWAYO Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) is calling upon the Ministry of Education to ensure that children are not chased away from school for failure to pay fees when the new term commences next week. The association has noted with concern in the past that schools deny children who have not paid fees access to school despite ministerial directives that this should not be done. This has meant that children from poor families – child headed families, families headed by senior citizens and families headed by labour constrained parents – have been denied access to education which is a human rights violation. Even children with working parents and guardians have been affected as most people feel the pressure from the economy, which is characterized by low salaries and liquidity problems.

BPRA thus calls upon the Ministry of Education to put measures in place to ensure that children are not chased away from school. The association welcomes announcements that as a policy, the government prohibits school heads from denying children access to school and from increasing school fees. However, efforts should be put in place to monitor the conduct of school authorities to ensure that they adhere to directives from the ministry of education. BPRA believes that schools should engage with parents and leave children alone to pursue their studies. After all, schools enter into contracts with parents and guardians, meaning that children should not be affected in the event their parents or guardians fail to settle their tuition.

When schools open next week, BPRA will be monitoring schools in Bulawayo to ensure that children are not being chased from school. The association will as usual seek legal assistance to ensure that any schools that send children away, allow them to return to class or face legal proceedings.

Regards

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Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu

Programmes and Advocacy Manager