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Masvingo Correspondent
Government will take stern measures against boarding schools that send grocery lists to parents, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor Paul Mavima has said.

At the close of the second term, several boarding schools around Masvingo and those in other parts of the country sent pupils with lists of groceries required at the beginning of this term.

In an interview with The Herald, Prof Mavima described the grocery demands as a burden to parents.

He said Government only permitted schools to negotiate with parents on tuition fees, but not to demand groceries.

“The grocery lists, which schools have sent to parents, must be cancelled forthwith,” he said. “Government has no educational policy promoting outrageous grocery demands on parents.

“Government is aware of the increase in prices of basic foodstuffs, but that is not a licence for them to demand groceries from parents.

“Instead, the schools should revisit their tuition fees through negotiations with parents rather than demanding groceries.

“Government will take stern measures against schools which continuously demand groceries.”

Prof Mavima said approved increments in tuition fees should cover groceries needed at the boarding schools.

“Government has allowed schools to increase their tuition fees through negotiations with parents to a level not exceeding $1 200 for this term,” he said.