Government has reiterated its firm stance that no school, whether public or private, has the legal right to withhold examination results from candidates due to unpaid fees. The reminder comes as concerns mount that some institutions are still attempting to use results as leverage to recover arrears from struggling parents.
Delivering the warning in the Senate during a Question-and-Answer session on Thursday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo was unequivocal. He stressed that the release of results issued by the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) is a matter of law and policy, not negotiation.
“The matter is non-negotiable. Every learner who sat for examinations is entitled to receive their results in full, irrespective of whether fees are owed to the school,” Moyo declared.
The Minister’s comments follow a spate of complaints from parents and guardians who feared that private institutions might withhold their children’s results until outstanding balances were settled. In some instances, parents have reported being summoned to offices and threatened with restricted access to their child’s academic records, a practice that the ministry insists is unlawful.
Minister Moyo highlighted that several cases had already been tested before the courts, with schools that attempted to hold on to results ultimately defeated. These rulings, he said, created a binding legal precedent that no institution could ignore.
“Schools have tried this before, and the courts have spoken very clearly. Withholding results is not only unlawful but also undermines the rights of children to education and progress,” he told senators.
Education activists and lawyers have previously argued that denying learners their results punishes children for circumstances often beyond their control. In many households, guardians face financial hardships linked to unemployment, inflation, and other economic challenges, but students should not bear the brunt of these difficulties.
Government Warns Private Schools Against Withholding ZIMSEC Results
While reaffirming the illegality of the practice, the Minister also urged parents and guardians to meet their financial obligations in order to keep schools operational. He noted that schools depend heavily on fees to fund daily operations, pay staff salaries, and maintain infrastructure.
“We encourage parents to honour their commitments, because schools also need resources to function. However, there are lawful channels for schools to pursue debts. Children’s academic futures must never be held hostage over arrears,” Government emphasised.
This balancing act — ensuring schools have resources while protecting learners — remains one of the most pressing dilemmas in the education sector.
Private schools, in particular, have argued that they face acute financial strain when parents default on payments. Unlike public institutions that receive some government support, private schools depend almost entirely on fees to sustain operations. The temptation to withhold results, they say, arises from frustration over unpaid bills running into thousands of dollars.
But education experts insist that while the concerns of private schools are legitimate, the law provides proper remedies for debt recovery — including civil litigation — rather than penalising learners.
Minister Moyo warned that any institution caught defying the directive would face “serious consequences.” Although he did not elaborate on specific penalties, previous cases have seen schools reported to the ministry, fined, or subjected to legal action.
“The Ministry has structures in place to deal with non-compliant institutions. If we receive reports of results being withheld, we will act swiftly and decisively,” he assured.
The warning has sparked debate among parents, teachers, and education stakeholders. Many parents welcomed the announcement, describing it as a relief, especially in a year when economic hardships have left households battling rising costs of living.
“This is good news. My son has just written his Ordinary Level exams, and with fees outstanding, I was very worried that his results might be withheld. At least now we know the law is on our side,” said a relieved parent from Harare.
On the other hand, some school administrators privately expressed frustration, arguing that without stronger fee-collection mechanisms, institutions risk collapsing under the weight of debt.
The issue highlights the broader tension in Zimbabwe’s education sector: balancing access to quality education against the financial sustainability of schools. While government insists learners’ rights must come first, school authorities warn that ignoring their plight could erode standards, staff morale, and infrastructure.
For now, however, the Government’s message remains clear — learners cannot be deprived of their results under any circumstances. Instead, schools are being encouraged to seek lawful avenues to recover what they are owed while ensuring that the constitutional right to education is upheld.
As exam results season approaches, thousands of families across the country will be watching closely to see whether schools comply fully with the directive, or whether further interventions from the Ministry will be necessary.Government.
Source- Bulawayo24
