The Zimbabwe government  has finished working on new regulations that will ensure compliance with existing procedures in raising fees and levies in schools.

Zimbabwe's Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said the regulations will improve the education system.

He said in coming up with the regulations, the ministry was governed by the Education Act.
"The new regulations will be tabled in Cabinet to the committee on legislation when it resumes sitting in a few weeks' time.

"We expect them to be enforced once all the necessary procedures are complete and we hope it will be in the shortest possible time," he said.
Minister Coltart said the new regulations will deal with schools that disrespect the Government and court decisions.

"Situations of schools that defy Government directives are rampant and we are tightening the grip on those unruly schools.

"For example, some milk parents by increasing school fees wily-nilly.
"There are laid down rules but many have a tendency of ignoring those rules," he said.

Under the Act, a majority of parents at a specially called meeting have to approve of any increase in fees or levies and then the minutes of the meeting and a list of parents attending has to be sent to the ministry for final approval.

"It is too early to divulge what we will do with such schools, but this time anyone caught on the wrong side of the law will regret."
He said the new regulations will also distinguish between the role of school development committees and school authorities.

There have been many clashes between school heads and SDC members over the control of finances and schools in general.
"This is a more serious problem where some do not know the limits.

"An SDC should only help in administering the school, but many tend to overlap and want to take total control of the schools.
"This is unacceptable according to the Education Act as it has contributed to the downfall of the country's education sector," he said.

The Government, Minister Coltart said, was also working on reviewing the schools curriculum to suit the country's social, historical and economical situations.
"It will take long just like the constitution-making process, but it is our hope that we also move with the technological advancement," said Minister Coltart.

"Attempts have been made before, but due to financial constraints the curriculum review failed to take off.
"But now we have made major economic improvements and we will work hard to improve the country's education sector."

By Africa Legal Brief