GOVERNMENT has failed to pay tuition fees for orphans and other underprivileged pupils under the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) for the past two years, the National Assembly heard.
Public Service minister Edgar Moyo acknowledged that schools are struggling to provide services owing to unpaid fees.
Moyo was responding to written questions from legislators in the National Assembly about remittance of Beam funds.
Beam is a government programme introduced in 2001 to pay tuition, examination fees and levies for underprivileged learners.
Moyo revealed that the government owes schools from as far back as 2023, contrary to the Beam Operational Manual’s 2016 directive. The manual states that the money should be paid at the end of each term.
“However, this termly disbursement of funds has been affected by delayed disbursements from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion,” Moyo said.
“This has led to the accrual of areas from 2023 and 2024 for the secondary and primary schools you referenced, respectively.
“Our ministry has engaged with the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion to release the necessary funds.”
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According to Moyo, only ZiG40 million was released for the programme this year to support children with disabilities.
He did not mention how much the government owes schools in unpaid Beam funds in total.
“Once these funds are released, all schools with Beam beneficiaries, including the ones you referred to, will be paid accordingly,” Moyo said.
“The ministry treats all mainstream schools with Beam beneficiaries equally and prioritises payment to schools.
“We acknowledge that schools are suffering as a result, but Treasury is committed, according to its statements.”
He said Treasury was committed to clearing the outstanding fees.
“Due to insufficient funds from Treasury, arrears have accrued from 2023 to date. I want to assure you that we are actively engaging with Treasury to clear these arrears and they have committed to supporting us in this effort,” the minister said.
“We understand the impact these delays have on our schools and students and we are working diligently to resolve this situation as soon as possible.
“Rest assured that we will continue to push for the necessary funds to be released so that our beneficiaries can receive the support they deserve.”
Moyo added: “The Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare is aware of the difficulties schools are encountering.
“This is why we are making all these efforts to try and push Treasury to honour its obligation in terms of this social protection scheme.”
Despite not paying for the programme, he warned schools against turning away learners on Beam over non-payment of fees arguing that the Constitution does not allow pupils to be turned away from school.
“Students are not supposed to be sent home for non-payment because once these students are enrolled under Beam, it is the responsibility of the government to make sure that Beam payments are done.”
Beam has, over the years, been seriously affected by under-funding resulting in children under its sponsorship failing to access basic education because their school fees will not have been paid.
The government admitted that there is widespread abuse of Beam funds and late disbursement, acknowledging the mismanagement that has plagued the programme.
For years, the government has been promising free basic education but has failed to implement the policy.
In 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law the Education Amendment Act which compels the State to provide free basic education in line with the provisions of section 27 of the Constitution.
