Outcry at St Augustine Penhalonga as fees balloon out of reach
PARENTS at St Augustine’s Penhalonga are up-in-arms against the school authorities for exacting a raft of charges meant as fees for examination classes, Zim Morning Post learnt.
One of the disgruntled parents said school authorities had initially charged them ZWL27 500 as fees for the remaining days in the third term, with an extra ZWL5 000 coming in as a stand-alone charge for an unmentioned practical subject.
“We paid ZWL27 500 as fees and an extra of ZWL5 000 as practical fee for form four pupils,” said one of the disgruntled parents.
Apart from the ZWL27 500 and ZWL5 000 practical fees, the parents and guardians are being squeezed of another US$20 (ZWL1 620 – Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe interbank Auction Floor rate).
The US$20 is for payment towards the teaching staff.
“Teachers who have their children in examinations classes at the school, have taken front-line positions to ensure that other parents pay the demanded US$20 which goes straight into the pockets of the teachers,” added one of the parents.
One of the Zim Morning Post source, who claims to have a Form 4 child a St Augustine Penhalonga complained that fees at the institution were now unfordable for ordinary people, adding that they only took home a paltry ZWL4 000.
“Hatitorinawo mari (We also do not have the money).
“We are earning about ZWL4 000 and cannot afford the fees,” said the source.
Many schools across Zimbabwe have reportedly increased school fees without first getting approval from the Primary and Secondary as well as Higher and Tertiary Education ministries.
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