The government currently owes schools a total of Z$57 million under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), a program aimed at helping disadvantaged students access education.
This information was disclosed by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube during a pre-budget seminar held in Bulawayo last week. Minister Ncube acknowledged the situation, stating:
“I recognize the challenge and Treasury is committed to clearing the outstanding arrears in the near future. We have prioritized settling the Z$57 million owed to special schools.”
He also highlighted that 30% of Zimbabwe’s primary and secondary school students—approximately 1.35 million of the country’s 4.5 million learners—benefit from the BEAM initiative. Ncube mentioned:
“I would like to inform the House that 30% of the 4.5 million primary and secondary students are supported by the BEAM programme.”
In response to suggestions for improvement, Ncube noted that a review of the BEAM programme might be necessary to ensure its effectiveness in reaching the intended beneficiaries.
Although Treasury allocates the funds for BEAM, the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare is responsible for distributing the funds and settling any arrears. However, school administrators have expressed concerns about delays in payments, with some schools hesitant to enroll more BEAM students due to outstanding payments dating back to the previous year.
Despite these financial challenges, the government has reminded schools that they are prohibited from denying BEAM students access to education, as the Constitution guarantees the right to education for all.
While the government has long promised free basic education, its efforts to fully implement this policy have faced significant hurdles.
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