The Zimbabwean government diverted millions of US dollars intended for the Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM) programme to fund preparations for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in August 2024.
Speaking at a recent event in Mhondoro, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerayi Moyo, admitted that the diversion of BEAM funds led to unexpected school drop-outs, poor attendance, and suffering to learners. Said Moyo (via <a href="https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-250127.html">Bulawayo24</a>):
<blockquote>
I am aware of the unexpected school drop-outs, poor attendance and suffering that was caused when we withhold and delay in effecting payments of BEAM fees countrywide. We apologise to all beneficiaries and some struggling masses who were shortchanged.
The money which was supposed to pay fees meant for BEAM was diverted into funding the SADC Summit and I know you are aware that we successfully hosted the event.
It was beyond my control to stop the spending on the SADC Summit, but I promise and (you will) agree that from now onwards, you will notice that there have been great improvements in terms of educational systems and policies.
We assure all beneficiaries that everything is now in order and we will never shortchange all beneficiaries this time.
We heard your plight and worst experience when we failed to pay for their school fees within the normal time frame.
We wish to correct and rectify that abnormality and make sure every child gets back to school and fulfil their educational expectations.
We will see from the Schools’ improvement grant coffers if we can assist in renovating some blocks affected by cyclones in Mhondoro.
</blockquote>
Moyo committed to securing the necessary funds for Muzavazi Secondary School to facilitate its development from a satellite school into a fully recognized institution. He said:
<blockquote>
I will release US$5,000 from complementary funding and pledge it to Muzavazi Secondary School so that they will be developed from being a satellite school into a formal institution which will have an examination centre, ensuring construction of a lock room for examination papers security.
From the information which we gathered here, we heard the Headmistress disclosing that since its inception (Muzavazi Satellite Secondary school), it boasts of a 12,5% pass rate in 2023, whilst in 2024 (last year), it improves to 19%, hence the need for us to construct that strong room to transform it into a formal one.
</blockquote>
He also promised to organize and host a celebration for Muzavazi Primary and Secondary (Satellite) Schools if they exceed his target of a 50% pass rate plus 1% over the next three to four examination years.

Pindula News

The government of Zimbabwe used money meant for helping kids go to school to pay for a summit instead. The Education Minister admitted this caused problems for students. He promised to make things right and improve the education system. He also promised to give money to a school to help it become better. The Minister said he will help the school get better exam results and even host a celebration if they do well in the future.

BEAM Funds Diverted To SADC Summit, Admits Education Minister

The government owes schools ZiG57 million under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), a programme designed to support the educational needs of disadvantaged students.
This was revealed by Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, Mthuli Ncube, during a pre-budget seminar in Bulawayo last week. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
I acknowledge the challenge and Treasury commits to clear the outstanding arrears in the near future. So far, we have prioritised the clearance of ZiG57 million arrears which was owed to special schools.
</blockquote>
Ncube also said that three out of every ten primary and secondary learners in Zimbabwe are supported by the BEAM programme. He said:
<blockquote>
Let me take this opportunity to inform the House that of the 4,5 million primary and secondary students in the country, 30% are under BEAM.
In line with a number of recommendations, perhaps there is a need to (have a) relook at the BEAM programme to improve its modus operandi to ensure that intended beneficiaries benefit from the programme.
</blockquote>
The BEAM funds are allocated by the Treasury, but the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare is responsible for paying fees and clearing any outstanding arrears.
School heads across the country have become hesitant to enrol more learners under the scheme, citing delays in payments that have been pending since as far back as last year.
Despite the outstanding payments, the government has warned schools against turning away BEAM students for non-payment, saying the Constitution guarantees the right to education and prohibits denying students access to school.
For years, the government has promised free basic education, but it has struggled to implement this policy.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The government owes schools in Zimbabwe 57 million dollars under a program called BEAM. The money is supposed to help students who are not well off. The Minister of Finance promised to pay the money soon. Many kids in the country, about three out of ten, benefit from this program. But some schools are not enrolling more kids because they have not received the money they are owed. The government says schools cannot turn away kids who are part of the BEAM program, even if they have not paid. The government has been trying to make basic education free, but it has been difficult.

Government Owes Schools ZiG57 Million Under BEAM Programme

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has urged the government to abolish the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) scheme and replace it with student grants.
On Tuesday, October 8, ARTUZ presented its education wish list ahead of Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s announcement of the 2025 National Budget next month, saying there was a need for increased funding to benefit both learners and educators.
Zimbabwe has struggled to meet the Dakar Declaration’s mandate that 20% of the national budget be allocated to education.
According to ARTUZ, Treasury allocations have been alarmingly low: 0.8% in 2020, 2.3% in 2021, 2.4% in 2022, 2.9% in 2023, and 2.8% for this year.
This decline in funding has contributed to a decrease in the quality of education, particularly in rural areas. The union said:
<blockquote>
A budget that meets these minimum standards is necessary to improve infrastructure, provide teaching and learning materials, and ensure fair compensation for educators.
In the context of rising prices and climate change, we recommend the scrapping of the now-defunct and inconsistent BEAM and be replaced with equity grants allocated to each learner to at least US$10 per school term (US$30 per year) per learner.
This funding will be essential in addressing the growing number of learners affected by declining family incomes and increasing poverty and climate-related disasters.
</blockquote>
Launched in 2001, BEAM was designed to ensure that vulnerable children have access to education. Its primary objective was to reduce school dropout rates and provide support for children who had never attended school due to economic hardships.
In May this year, Ncube revealed that the government owed schools US$57 million in BEAM arrears by the end of the 2023 financial year.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The teacher's union in Zimbabwe wants to get rid of BEAM and give student grants instead. They say funding for education is too low. They want at least 20% of the budget to go to education, but it's been much less. This has made the quality of education worse, especially in rural areas. The student grants would help kids affected by poverty and disasters. BEAM was started in 2001 to help vulnerable kids go to school, but now the government owes schools a lot of money for this program.

Teachers Propose Abolition Of BEAM In Favour Of Student Grants

The Headmaster and Deputy Head of a secondary school in Chiredzi District were recently arraigned before the Triangle Magistrates’ Court facing criminal abuse of duty charges.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the case emerged after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) received an anonymous tip alleging that the two had improperly included their children in the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) programme. BEAM is intended to assist underprivileged students.
However, the school head and his deputy bypassed established procedures to benefit their own children.
A thorough investigation revealed that each individual had unlawfully received US$120 for the year 2022 through this scheme. As a result, they were arrested and brought to trial.
Upon conviction, the court sentenced both defendants to 20 months in prison. However, 6 months of the sentence were suspended for 5 years, contingent on their good behaviour.
Additionally, 2 months were suspended on the condition that they pay restitution to the Social Services Department.
The remaining 12 months of their sentence were also suspended, provided they completed 420 hours of community service.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The headmaster and deputy head of a school in Chiredzi were found guilty of putting their own kids in a program meant for poor students. They got money that wasn't supposed to go to them. The court gave them a sentence of 20 months in prison, but they only had to serve some of that time. They also have to do community service and pay back the money they took. This is wrong because they were supposed to help needy children, not use the money for themselves.

Headmaster And Deputy Head In Chiredzi Convicted Of BEAM Fraud

The government is struggling to pay fees for more than one million disadvantaged school children registered under its Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM).
This was revealed by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Mthuli Ncube, during a question and answer session in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Responding to a question from Emakhandeni-Luveve MP Discent Bajila (CCC), Ncube said the government owed schools US$57 million in BEAM arrears by the end of the 2023 financial year.
He said during the 2023 financial year, 1,515, 047 children registered for financial support under BEAM. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
The government availed ZWL$77.5 billion against a budget of ZWL$23 billion thereby reducing school fees arrears as well as clearing ZIMSEC examination arrears for 2023.
Notwithstanding the above efforts, resource constraints exacerbated by changes in the macro-economic environment resulted in the accumulation of arrears for BEAM which stood at an equivalent of US$57 million (ZiG772 million) by the end of the 2023 financial year.
The 2024 budget set aside ZWL805, 087,608 now ZiG322,163,908 million to cater for BEAM. However, due to limited fiscal space, the budget is not able to fully cover the arrears thereby limiting to cover both arrears and current fees obligations.
To this effect, the treasury will ensure the release of the full budget in line with current fees payments to curb further accumulation of arrears.
Treasury will also strive to find additional budget during the course of the year to prioritise payment of arrears to the marginalised schools so that service delivery is not compromised.
</blockquote>
The government has barred school heads and School Development Committees (SDCs) from sending away learners if parents and guardians fail to pay tuition.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Edgar Moyo said schools should engage debt collectors to deal with parents who are defaulting on settling school fees for their children. He said:
<blockquote>
Legally, school authorities are allowed to engage debt collectors to recover unpaid school fees instead of turning away learners.
As a matter of fact, we have consistently advised our school authorities to engage with parents or guardians in order to pay school fees and levies without even sending pupils away from school.
In the event that parents or guardians are not able to pay all the required fees and levies, the ministry has been on record, for advising school authorities to enter into a flexible payment plan.
However, we want to urge parents or guardians to respect the payment plans which they enter into with school authorities.
</blockquote>
In 2020, President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law the Education Amendment Act which compels the State to provide free basic education as stipulated by Section 27 of the Constitution.
In the run-up to the 2018 and 2023 general elections, the Government promised free basic education but has failed to honour the promises.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Admits Failure To Pay BEAM Fees, Arrears Exceed US$57 Million

An inter-ministerial subcommittee has been set up by the Government to address issues relating to delays in the disbursement of Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) funds, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo has revealed.
Some schools have gone for more than one year without receiving payments, a situation that hampers the smooth running of schools.
Moyo addressed school heads in Bulawayo at St Columbus High School on Thursday where he allowed the National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH), National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) and Independent Colleges to make submissions on issues that need to be addressed.
The associations raised issues around non-payment of fees, teacher remuneration, and staffing levels.
Moyo told the school heads that the Government has taken steps to address the challenges caused by delays in the payment of BEAM funds. He said (<a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/team-set-up-to-address-beam-payment-modalities/">via The Herald</a>):
<blockquote>
We also have BEAM facilities and the concerns raised by NAPH and NASH are legitimate that the trend has been that the Ministry of Finance has been delaying the disbursement of BEAM funds.
The year 2024 is the year of African education and we have made an engagement with the Minister of Finance (Prof Mthuli Ncube).
We have actually established sub-committees to look into quick disbursement of BEAM funds.
Just yesterday, the first meeting of that sub-committee was held and our Permanent Secretary (Mr Mike Mhike) was in attendance.
</blockquote>
Moyo said Deputy Finance Minister, David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa, will chair the subcommittee.
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Angeline Gata and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Deputy Minister Mercy Dinha will be members of the committee. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>
In some schools you last got BEAM payment in the first term of 2023 and in some schools, BEAM payment has taken two years. It’s not right.
We are going to solve that issue and because we are in that year of our education as Africans, we are going to come up with new modalities that will result in quick disbursements of BEAM funds.
</blockquote>
The ZANU PF-led Government has a habit of promising free education in the run-up to general elections but the promises are soon forgotten after the polls and schools will have another inconvenience of receiving BEAM funds long after they have been eroded by inflation.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Inter-ministerial Team Set Up To Address BEAM Payment Delays

Schools and parents have implored the Government to expedite the release of Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) funds saying the delays in payments were disrupting the smooth running of schools.
The call comes amid revelations that some schools last got payments in 2022.
Arthur Maphosa, who is president of the National Association of School Heads (NASH), told the <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/government-urged-to-expedite-release-of-beam-funds-to-schools/">Chronicle</a> that the major challenge is that it is not the parent Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education that is responsible for the payment of the BEAM funds. Said Maphosa:
<blockquote>
BEAM seeks to ensure that no child is left behind in education, it ensures that every child has access to education despite background. However, over the years, perhaps because of our economic challenges as a nation, those responsible for making payments have been very slow and this creates a big challenge, making it very difficult for schools to be run effectively, hence results are also affected.
As NASH we are hamstrung because schools are failing to equip classrooms with necessary learning resources, failing to participate in sporting activities and in the process denying the children an opportunity to showcase their skills, some of which may be their source of income.
We hope that our new minister will dialogue with his colleague for a solution to this payment delay.
</blockquote>
Speaking during a parents’ meeting on Monday, 22 January, Lukhanyiso Primary School headmaster, Aaron Mhango, claimed that his school last received BEAM funds in May 2022.
Zimbabwe Schools Development Association Committee (ZSDAC) general secretary, Everisto Jongwe, said when the payments are finally made, the Government doesn’t even consider the impact of inflationary forces. He said:
<blockquote>
The situation is even made worse by the fact that when this money is paid, it does not take into account the length of the arrears vis-a-vis inflationary forces.
If for instance, a school has 500 learners under BEAM owing say $500 000, the Government will pay that same amount regardless of when, be it one year or two years later.
From an accounting point of view, the Government must pay the amount owed but from an economic position, it is not working hence it has always been our plea for those parents whose children are not under BEAM to pay their school fees on time so that schools can at least have something to run with.
We are urging the Government to release the funds on time.
</blockquote>
BEAM is a national school assistance programme launched by the Government in 2001 to assist orphans and vulnerable children.
The financing of the programme mainly comes from the Government through the Treasury and also from the donor community.
Over 1.5 million learners were beneficiaries of the BEAM programme as of December 2023.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Schools, Parents Urge Govt To Expedite Release Of BEAM Funds

The Government says it will weed out all undeserving beneficiaries of school fees disbursed under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) after it emerged that some schools have all their learners receiving the grants.
BEAM was established in 2001 by the Government as part of the Enhanced Social Protection Programme (ESPP) the objective was to provide basic education to everyone in Zimbabwe including students who could not afford school fees such as Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
However, there has been widespread abuse of the BEAM funds as some parents and guardians who are able to pay tuition for their children are benefitting from the grant.
Speaking at the National Association of Primary Heads national conference in Mutare recently, Primary and Secondary Education Minister <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Torerayi_Moyo">Torerayi Moyo</a> said:
<blockquote>
This thing called BEAM is a very good thing. It helps make every citizen access basic education.
In my constituency, there is a school where all 400 learners are under BEAM.
Given the late disbursements of BEAM funds, how do we surely expect the school to operate?
Here we are saying we must not give BEAM and grant-in-aid-of-tuition facilities to every student in Zimbabwe.
Let the few deserving students be offered those facilities. The majority of learners whose parents can afford should pay. That is our declaration…
The sad thing is that we have parents and guardians who do not want to pay school fees for their children.
We really have to go out and embark on a drive to urge all parents and guardians to meet the financial demands of their dependents.
We want to come up with a declaration that we will popularise as we seek to make every parent and guardian responsible by paying for their child’s school fees.
</blockquote>
Early this month, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister July Moyo said that the Government has a staggering ZWL$278 billion outstanding bill for BEAM.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Parents Abusing BEAM Facility, Says Education Minister

The Government is yet to disburse this year’s Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) funds to beneficiaries at Bulawayo City Council (BCC) schools.
According to the latest council minutes, the local authority’s housing and community services director Dictor Khumalo, some BEAM beneficiaries fail to get their public examinations results due to the non-payment of fees. Said Kkumalo:
<blockquote>
Council did not receive any Beam funds as yet for 2023, while $75 931 999 was the outstanding balance for 2022 Beam allocations.
Alderman Monica Lubimbi was concerned about the non-payment of BEAM in council schools. This affected beneficiaries and their parents and guardians.
She urged the central government to pay in time so that the quality of education improves.
The chairperson (councillor Sinikiwe Mutanda) concurred. Some results of Beam beneficiaries were withheld pending full payment of all outstanding school fees.
</blockquote>
He said council was engaging the Government at the provincial level to ensure the Beam funds are released.
BEAM was established in 2001 by the government of Zimbabwe as part of the <a class="new" href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/index.php?title=Enhanced_Social_Protection_Programme&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" title="Enhanced Social Protection Programme (page does not exist)">Enhanced Social Protection Programme</a> (<a class="new" href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/index.php?title=ESPP&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1" title="ESPP (page does not exist)">ESPP</a>) the objective was to provide basic education to everyone in Zimbabwe including students that could not afford the school fees such as <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Orphans_and_vulnerable_children" title="Orphans and vulnerable children">Orphans and vulnerable children</a> (OVC).
This was part of the policy of the government as well as global agreements that the Zimbabwean government is a signatory to.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Yet To Disburse BEAM Funds To Bulawayo City Council Schools

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 <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local-news/article/200009494/beam-students-can-only-register-6-subjects-govt">Southern Eye</a> 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:
<blockquote>
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).
</blockquote>
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: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009522/ed-demands-re-run-in-violence-hotspots">Pindula News</a>

BEAM Covers Six O' Level Subjects Only - Govt

The government says it will gradually start implementing its State-funded free education policy when schools open for the first term next week.
Speaking in an interview with State media on Tuesday, Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said:
<blockquote>
The free education effort is not starting this year. It has been building up for some time. As for Matabeleland South, I know that two districts, Mangwe and Beitbridge pioneered the issue of free education and it was two districts across the country’s rural provinces where Government was fully paying for learners.
In our statement last year, we highlighted that it is not going to be everyone who will be covered. It is going to be a phased approach, beginning with the most disadvantaged communities classified under our systems and coded as P3, which are the rural primary schools, and S3, rural secondary schools.
Our efforts are going to be targeted at those areas and gradually we are going to realise full State-funded education. We have started through BEAM and the pilot program where two districts were covered.
We will gradually begin, with the most disadvantaged schools and move up the ladder until we are able to cover the whole population.
</blockquote>
The government already subsides the payment of Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) registration fees by up to 55 percent for every learner while fully paying the fees for those pupils under BEAM.
Around two million disadvantaged learners’ fees are paid for under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) from the estimated 6.7 million pupil population. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/government-explains-free-education-policy-school-fees-reprieve-for-disadvantaged-rural-pupils/">Chronicle</a>

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