Illegal to reject rand, pula: Govt Dr Lazarus Dokora

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
It is against the law to reject the South African rand and Botswana pula as legal tender for the payment of school fees, Government has warned.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora told senators last week that the South African rand was still legal tender in the basket of currencies adopted by the Government in 2009.

He was responding to a question from Beitbridge Senator Tambudzani Mohadi (Zanu-PF), who sought to know what Government was doing about school heads who turned away pupils who wanted to pay school fees in South African rand or Botswana pula.

Sen Mohadi said many pupils in her area were not going to school after authorities rejected the South African rand.

“It is true that she asked this question before, and I did respond to it to say that if there are instances where this practice of turning down what is a legal tender in this country in the multi-currency regime, if any of our institutions are turning down this legal tender — those schools should be reported through our system. I am happy to receive the list from the honourable member and we will take action,” said Minister Dokora.

Many trading institutions have over the past months been rejecting the South African rand, which has been depreciating rapidly in value against the United States dollar.

Most shops and individuals have since stopped using the rand to settle debts preferring the green back.

Responding to another question, Minister Dokora said his ministry had an elaborate plan in its new curriculum to promote the learning of Science and Mathematics.

He was responding to a question from Disabled Representative Senator Nyamayabo Mashavakure, who wanted to know if Government would take the promotion of Science and Mathematics from Advanced level to Ordinary Level as well.

Sen Mashavakure asked what Government was doing to deter a temptation by teachers to discourage the learning of sciences so as to secure high pass rates.

“Our plan to promote Science, Mathematics and technical vocational subjects, is in the new curriculum. It begins at level one — from the infants right up to A-Level,” said Minister Dokora.

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