Beyond Tuition: How Some Private Schools Are Turning Parents into Unwitting Investors

For many Zimbabwean parents, enrolling a child in a private school is no longer a luxury—it is a sacrifice.

It means stretching salaries, making trade-offs, and in some cases, taking on debt—all in the hope of securing a better future for their children.

But for a growing number of families across Zimbabwe, that sacrifice is beginning to feel like something else entirely.

An obligation without limits.

“We Just Wanted Education… Not to Buy a Bus”

It often starts with a notice.

A message from the school. A circular. A meeting.

Then comes the demand: a compulsory levy.

Not for tuition. Not for books. But for something bigger—a bus, a new classroom block, a computer lab.

For some parents, the latest flashpoint has been the requirement to contribute towards the purchase of a school bus.

“We are now being forced to buy assets for the school,” one parent said.

“What happens when my child leaves? Does that bus belong to me?”

It’s a question many are asking—but few are getting clear answers to.

The Official Position

The government insists the system is not a free-for-all.

Speaking to Afriprobe, Taungana Ndoro of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Zimbabwe said private schools are firmly under state regulation.

“Private schools are regulated by the Ministry, including their school fees and levies,” Ndoro explained.

According to the Ministry, there is a process:

Schools must consult and agree with parents

Then apply for approval for any levy—whether for a bus or infrastructure

“If parents feel the demands are out of reach, they can report to District Schools Inspectors,” he added.

On paper, the system appears clear.

On the Ground: A Different Reality?

Yet for many parents, the lived experience tells a different story.

Some say the “consultation” is little more than a formality.

Others claim the levies are presented in ways that leave little room for refusal.

Pay—or risk your child being sidelined.

What troubles parents most is not just the cost—but the principle.

They argue that they are being drawn into financing private property:

A bus owned by the school

Buildings owned by the proprietor

Infrastructure they will never benefit from beyond their child’s stay

“This is no longer just about fees,” another parent said.

“We are now investors in businesses we don’t own.”

A System Under Strain

The rise of private education in Zimbabwe is not happening in a vacuum.

It is a response to a public system under pressure—where resources are stretched and confidence has been shaken.

Private schools have stepped in to fill the gap.

But as demand grows, so too does the risk of imbalance.

Without strict enforcement, critics warn, market forces can overtake educational principles.

Calls for Reform

Now, a growing number of parents are calling for more than just enforcement—they want policy change.

They argue:

Levies for capital projects should be optional, not compulsory

Parents should not be required to fund long-term school assets

There must be clear limits on what schools can charge

At the heart of it all is a simple demand: fairness.

The Bigger Question

The debate goes beyond buses and buildings.

It cuts to the core of Zimbabwe’s education future:

👉 When parents pay, how much is too much?

👉 Where does education end—and business begin?

👉 And who protects the parent when the system becomes unbalanced?

🔴 AFRIPROBE VERDICT

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Zimbabwe maintains that private schools must seek approval and parental consent for levies.

But as pressure mounts from parents, one thing is becoming clear:

There may be a growing gap between policy and practice—one that Zimbabwe can no longer afford to ignore.

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