Concerned Parents and Learners Protest School Development Fees in Dowa
Parents and learners from Chibwana primary school march to protest the demand for development fees, citing Ministry of Education guidelines.
DOWA, Malawi – Concerned parents and learners from Chibwana primary school in Dowa district recently marched to the Primary Education Advisor's (PEA) office in Dowa Boma to deliver a petition outlining their grievances, writes Mphatso M'bang'ombe.
The determined group embarked on a 15-kilometre journey from Chibwana School to Dowa Boma to voice their concerns.
Blessings Ishmael, one of the parents who gathered at Dowa Teachers Development Centre (TDC), expressed their worries about the school's demand for a development fee of K4,000 per student.
"We are deeply concerned as parents to see our children being sent home from school for almost three days simply because we cannot afford to pay this amount," lamented Mr. Ishmael.
This recent development arises despite the Ministry of Education's condemnation of such practices on July 27, 2022, warning teachers that disciplinary action would be taken.
The ministry clarified that learners may contribute to the School Development Fund, but the amount should not exceed K1,000 when the school has an ongoing project.
Activists under the Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) also released a statement highlighting the additional indirect costs associated with education, including fees for school books, registration, examinations, report cards, EMIS codes, and mock examinations.
These costs disproportionately affect learners from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, hindering their access to education.
Elia Kapiseni, the assistant coordinator at Boma Zone, confirmed the receipt of the petition from concerned parents and assured them that the matter would be followed up promptly.
Kapiseni emphasised the importance of upholding learners' rights at all times.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the headteacher of Chibwana Primary School were unsuccessful, as they could not be reached on their mobile phone at the time of writing.
The protest by the concerned parents and learners sheds light on the ongoing debate surrounding the affordability of education and the adherence to Ministry of Education guidelines, advocating for equitable access to quality education for all students.