TOP-UP FEES: SOME HEAD TEACHERS OPEN PRIVATE ACCOUNTS

MBABANE – Despite primary education being free, it remains costly for low-income families in urban areas.

According to economists, economic factors affecting schools in both urban and rural settings are similar, primarily due to top-up fees, costs for uniforms, supplies and transportation. Eswatini News reported that parents end up spending three times more for urban schools compared to those in rural areas due to these factors.

Nanikie Mnisi, the Acting Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training, stated that her ministry is closely monitoring the situation regarding top-up fees and intends to take appropriate legal action. She expressed concern that Regional Education Officers (REOs) are not adequately collaborating with the ministry to resolve this issue.

Situation

“Top-up fees are illegal, and the PS’s Office will take decisive steps to address the situation. We have discovered that head teachers are opening private, unauditable accounts, where parents’ funds are being deposited without oversight,” she said. “The ministry has not observed any structural improvements in schools despite the imposition of top-up fees. It is puzzling why parents agree to pay these fees without approval from the Ministry of Education and Training, as required by the Free Primary Education Act of 2010,” she added.

Mnisi clarified that while the Free Primary Education (FPE) Act of 2010 does not explicitly prohibit top-up fees, it mandates that the head teacher must hold a meeting with the school committee and parents first. The minutes of these meetings should document that parents were present and agreed on any proposed top-up fees.

Suggestions

Parents are required to sign their names indicating whether they agree or disagree with any top-up fee suggestions.
“These signatures will help the ministry determine the majority opinion on the proposal. The ministry also collects suggestions from the REOs regarding the need for top-ups and their intended duration,” she explained. She further noted that top-up fees should not be permanent; they are intended for specific periods to cover identified necessities at the school.

“A top-up might be charged annually or over two to three years for structural improvements. It cannot extend beyond that timeframe. Furthermore, there is a waiver for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs), who are not required to pay top-up fees,” she highlighted. FPE is a mandatory national assessment for every child to qualify for secondary school education. All school-aged children can access primary education through FPE, regardless of barriers.

Thami Dlamini, President of the Eswatini Principals Association (EPA), stated that his association has not received any reports of misconduct from its members. “We are unaware of what the PS is referencing. “As an association, we have not seen or heard any reports of issues from our members. If there were evidence, that would be a different matter. However, we know that head teachers wishing to implement top-up fees must follow specific procedures and obtain permission from the ministry,” Dlamini stated.

Dlamini emphasised that members must comply with established guidelines for charging top-up fees to avoid repercussions from government, which can take action against non-compliance since this issue is subject to legal regulations.

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