21 Feb 2017

Private primary and secondary schools across the country charge various rates depending upon what courses they offer, the quality of their facilities, supply and demand for spaces and their reputations based on performance.

This was said by the Minister of Basic Education, Dr Unity Dow when responding to a question from Francistown East MP, Mr Buti Billy who had asked the minister if she was aware that private primary and secondary schools in the country charge exorbitant school fees, and that if so, he wanted to know if the minister would consider regulating private school fees.

Dr Dow said she was unable to agree that any school charges exorbitant fees as that was a value judgement to which the MP was at liberty to arrive at.“It remains a matter of choice for parents to enroll their children in private schools and any interference would impact on the available choice of schools, which is a factor considered by foreign investment in this country,” she said.