CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Dumisani Khumalo, Zimbabwe, June 1999
THEME = EDUCATION
The Social Dimensional Fund (SDF) has pronounced that it
will no longer
provide orphans and the very destitute with school fees, because it has no money
When it was launched, the SDF was accessible as school fees, to children of those earning Z$400 and below. Way back in 1990, it was meant to cushion the poor from the adverse effects of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme. Now, almost a decade later, the upper threshold of Z$400 has become meaningless, as even the lowest paid are now earning above that amount, while prices have risen by 300% in that period. In other words, current market forces have reduced the fund to a mere face-saving name.
So, it's back to the old system where those without the wherewithal to send their children to school, have to accept that their children are doomed to grow up deprived of any formal education. The government has also handed over the responsibility of running the schools, to the parents. This has put an extra burden on parents and virtually rules out the unemployed.
Even if the child is brilliant, he or she can forget about going on to university, as it now costs up to Z$45,000 a year to attend one. So it's back to education and prosperity for "the haves", and nothing for "the have-nots" - a situation which Zimbabwe had reversed from 1980 to 1989. The dream of education for all, is now but a pipe-dream.
The most unfortunate part is, that parents were only told in January that the SDF was broke. So what's a parent do to raise the fees? It seems the SDF has lost its usefulness as it is no longer being adequately funded. Girls in particular are the first victims as parents are forced to make a choice that favours boys.
A solution has been suggested so that parents in need can get the necessary funds to send their children to school. A Food For Work Programme - especially in the rural areas. The idea is - rather than hiring maintenance people for the school grounds from outside the area, why not take on those parents who are in need, to work on the grounds during their spare time. Also, those pupils who are old enough to work, could work at their respective schools for their fees during their holidays. Missionaries have used this method for decades and many a successful Zimbabwean including politicians and President Mugabe himself, were educated that way. It only takes commitment on the part of the parent or the students. But will the United Nations be willing to support this form of child labour?
During the 1990's, it was made a legal offence to deny any Zimbabwean child of school age, the right to education. This was a most welcome move because certain religious sects in Zimbabwe did not believe in sending their children to school. Once the appropriate legislation had been passed, attitudes changed and most parents did their best to send their children to school.
Now, parents are virtually being asked to pay for their children's education, although it's not put that way.
But is it not against the law to deny a child the right to go to school?
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1999 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement