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*Govt Schools Using Black Market Rates | Report*

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Parents and guardians claim that some government schools are pegging school fees for the 2023 first term using black markets rates.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education directed that schools should accept both foreign currencies and local currency but the latter should be pegged at the prevailing bank rate when the payment is made.

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Currently, the official rate is US$1:$661 but some schools are using rates as high as US$1:$2 000.

A parent whose son is at Seke 3 High in Chitungwiza told NewsDay that the school was charging US$40 or $40 000 per term, placing the rate at US$1:$1 000. Said the parent:

> I think it is a method (devised) by school authorities to discourage the RTGS [Real Time Gross Settlement] payment method.

> But this is also a big disadvantage for us as parents, especially those of us who earn in the local currency.

> The behaviour of these school authorities exposes that government is not serious about the poor accessing education because the working poor are the ones who are receiving salaries and wages in RTGS.

A parent with a child at Patsika Primary School in Pfungwe, Mashonaland East Province, told the publication that they were paying $15 000 or US$15.

At Hokodzi Primary School in Murewa District, parents are reportedly paying US$15 or $30 000, giving a rate of US$1:$2 000.

At Chemapango Primary School in the same district, fees are pegged at US$25 or $35 000 which translates to US$1:$1 400.

Kotwa Government School in Mudzi District, Mashonaland East province, is reportedly charging $30 000 or US$30.

Meanwhile, the director of communication and advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Taungana Ndoro said that defying a ministerial directive on school fees was illegal. He said:

> It remains illegal to violate government policy and such schools and their heads risk heavy sanctioning.

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