The Zimbabwe government has published a Bill that will allow the government to set fees for private schools, a state-run newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The Education Amendment Bill is expected to be debated when Parliament resumes next month, the state-controlled Herald said.
Last year 46 of the country’s private schools were forced to close temporarily by the government for hiking school fees without permission, but this year a court ruled that the schools are allowed to hike their fares without consulting the government.
However, the new Bill will give the Ministry of Education the authority to fix school fees ”after considering an application from the school concerned,” the Herald said. Schools which defy the fee stipulations will be fined, said the newspaper.
Private schools have defended charging high fees, saying they are the only way the institutions can remain viable in Zimbabwe where inflation is over 129%. – Sapa-DPA