Ordinary Level candidates whose school fees are paid through the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), have to top up examination fees if they register for more than six subjects.
Bulawayo provincial education director Jane Ndebele on Thursday told Southern Eye that the BEAM programme pays for only six Ordinary Level (‘O’ Level) subjects.
She said candidates on BEAM sitting for more than six subjects have to pay for the extra subjects. Ndebele said:
Through BEAM assistance, students can only register for six subjects. Those who have been asked to pay on their own are probably doing more than six subjects.
The claims that BEAM is no longer paying fees for ‘O’ Level students probably came from parents who do not understand that the programme pays for six subjects (only).
BEAM is a national school assistance programme which was launched by the Government of Zimbabwe in 2001 to assist orphans and vulnerable children.
Early this year, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Paul Mavima said more than 1.8 million learners in the country’s 61 districts have been registered to benefit from BEAM.
More: Pindula News