Secondary Schools heads urge govt to benchmark fees against US$

VIC FALLS- National Association of Secondary Schools Heads (Nash) has begged government to to review the model of payment for fees,Express Mail Zim can report.
They implored government to peg fees in US dollars, with those parents paying in local currency being allowed to carry out the transaction at the official exchange rate prevailing on the day of payment to save them from erosion by inflation.
The plea was made by Nash president Arthur Maphosa at the ongoing conference in the resort town of Victoria Falls.
He categorically stated that schools were not demanding to collect fees in US dollars and abandon the local currency, but to be merely allowed to benchmark the fees in US dollars.
Said Maphosa:
“While we appreciate different models of collection, depending on the geography of the school, it is Nash belief that benchmarking against the US dollar could make operations better and allow parents or guardians to pay using currency of their choice at the bank auction rate prevailing at the time of payment.

“If Zimsec can be allowed to benchmark examination fees against the US dollar, why not schools?
“The heads did not say they are demanding the payment in United States dollars.

We are only saying let’s benchmark on the US dollar so that education offices will not be inundated with everyday requests for approval and increase of fees.”
The biggest casualties are boarding schools as the skyrocketing prices of food rendered it almost impossible for them to keep learners at school.

He also lamented over how schools are left in a financial quagmire everytime they collect exam fees on behalf of the examination council owing to bank and transport costs

VicePresident Constantino Chiwenga is expected to officiate at the conference Thursday

.The conference resumes after a two year hiatus due to the Covid 19 pandemic.