Clarifying government's stance on the issue of school fees in secondary schools, an officer at the ministry told Mmegi that the press release published in yesterday's Daily News was yet another effort by government to ensure all stakeholders have accurate information to avoid problems in future.
Government says it has on numerous accounts emphasised that children whose parents can afford to pay school fees but do not do so will be sent home until their parents pay the due fees, further explaining that should the parents fail to pay, "it will be the end of their child's schooling".
The assessment of students on the basis of eligibility for exemptions is a continuous process, thus affirming government's commitment to assuring that none of the students who have been exempted from paying school fees are sent home, for school- fees-related matters.
However, the ministry reiterates that "all students whose parents/guardians are eligible to pay school fees are expected to do so timeously", further explaining that all students who are "eligible to pay but fail to do so will be excluded from school until they have paid".
Fees for both community junior and senior secondary schools are P300, and P450 per student per year respectively.
Parents have an option to pay the fees per term or monthly. Therefore, parents of students who attend junior secondary can choose to pay P50 per month or pay P100 per term, while those whose children attend senior secondary have the option of paying P75 per month and P150 per term.
The ministry also explains the criteria used to exempt students from paying school fees. They include students from destitute families, orphans, needy students, and students in need of care and are registered with Social Welfare Services.
Students from households whose total earnings, (including income from sources other than employment) per month are P550 or less will pay fees for one or more of their children, depending on how many school-going children they have.
The ministry states that parents who fall in this income bracket and have one-to-three children, who attend secondary school and technical college, would only pay for one student, while those with four-to-six children in secondary schools and technical colleges will only pay for two of their children.
Parents with seven children and above, who are enrolled in secondary school and technical colleges and fall under the above stated income bracket, would only be required to pay for three of their children. The ministry emphasises that "all parents/guardians, who earn P550 and above, are expected to pay for all the children".
Meanwhile, the ministry says it has identified a number of key players who will assist in referring cases for assessment, adding that social workers have been engaged throughout the country to assess cases referred to them to determine students who qualify for total or partial exemption.
The key players identified include parents/guardians/care-givers, school/college management, education officers, community-based organisations: Village development committees (VDCs), churches, extension teams, and community leaders, including Dikgosi, Members of Parliament (MPs), councillors, and constituency office staff.
Government also guarantees that school heads will ensure that all students referred for assessment or have been referred for assessment and are still awaiting assessment results are not sent home for school fees, adding that parents whose children were referred for assessment and are exempted will not pay arrears.
