Private schools reopen

Most private schools closed by the Zimbabwe government last week are set to reopen, the Department of Education told IRIN on Monday. An official confirmed on Monday that 43 of the 45 schools shut down by government over a fees dispute had been cleared for reopening, and discussions were ongoing over the fate of two others - a resolution regarding them could soon be announced. The 45 schools were closed last week after breaching the Education Act when they increased fees and levies by more the allowed 10 percent without seeking permission to do so from the Permanent Secretary for Education. About 30,000 pupils were affected by the decision to close private schools. Education department spokesman Beredias Nyanhete told IRIN that by Monday letters had been sent to police, notifying them that 43 schools had "come to some accommodation with the ministry" over the increased fees and were allowed to reopen. Last week Minister of Education Aeneas Chigwedere instructed police to prevent the start of the second term at private schools until they had reached agreement with the state over school fees. The letters sent out over the weekend and on Monday requested the withdrawal of "police cadres" from the premises of the 43 schools that had agreed to cut fees. Private schools argued that the 10 percent increase allowed by the Education Act fell far short of the cost of maintaining education standards and school facilities. Inflation in Zimbabwe has hovered around 600 percent as the country's economic crisis pushes up prices for goods and services. The closure of the private schools followed the suspension of 92 school heads last term over the same issue. See earlier IRIN report: Thousands affected as authorities close private schools