By A Correspendent
SPEAKER of Parliament Jacob Mudenda says it is unlawful for school heads to chase away pupils over non-payment of fees and the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education should be made to answer if there are still schools acting in violation of the law.
Mudenda was responding to a legislator in Parliament on Tuesday who raised concern over exclusion of pupils due to non-payment of fees.
“We have noticed and it is quite sad that the majority of students in our schools are being turned away for non-payment of school fees. I raised this issue with the Hon. Minister and she promised to take action but there is nothing happening on the ground in terms of remediation.
“Schools just willy-nilly turn away students, violating their fundamental rights to education, according to Section 75 of the Constitution. As Parliament, we need to demand enforcement in terms of those schools that are failing or defying the provisions of the Constitution,” said the legislator.
The legislator said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should raise a red flag on schools that are turning away pupils.
“It is sad that some of the students that are being turned away are on social safety nets. I am talking of BEAM students whose fees are supposed to be paid by the Government are being turned away. It is very bad and I think something has to be done. We have made some attempts to raise this issue during Question Time but the problem still persists,” said the legislator.
In response, Mudenda said, “I am not sure whether it was last year or the beginning of this year that I referred to a High Court judgement by the Retired Justice Mafios Cheda, which clearly said that it was unlawful for the headmasters of schools to chase away students for non-payment of fees.
“In his judgement, he indicated that the responsibility lies with the parents. So, tomorrow (Wednesday) , ask the Hon. Minister why the system is in contempt of the High Court ruling,” said Mudenda.
