Government Yet To Clear BEAM Payments Since 2023, Parliament Told

Schools across Zimbabwe are facing financial difficulties due to delays in the disbursement of funds under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), a government scheme designed to support vulnerable learners.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo told Parliament on Wednesday that the Treasury has not released BEAM funds since the beginning of 2023.

He said Treasury had so far released ZiG40 million this year, which was directed towards clearing part of the arrears for the first and second terms of 2024, but only for special schools such as Jairos Jiri, St Giles, Sibantubanye and M. Hugo School for the Blind.

Moyo added that his ministry is in ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Finance “almost weekly” in an effort to address the shortfall.

Mkoba South MP Kuka John (CCC), who raised the issue during the parliamentary question-and-answer session,  said many schools were struggling to operate and risked collapse if the situation continued. He said:

“We have a problem. Most schools in our constituencies are deteriorating while we wait for Treasury disbursements. The only option left is for schools to close.”

Rushinga legislator Tendai Nyabani (ZANU PF) said that some schools have as many as 100 percent of their learners enrolled under BEAM, leaving them with virtually no other sources of income.

BEAM is a government programme that covers tuition, examination fees, and school levies for orphaned and vulnerable children in primary and secondary schools.

It operates across all 61 districts, both urban and rural, and is designed to support more than 1.5 million learners nationwide.

More: ZimLive

Related:

Rights, Rhetoric, And The State’s Responsibility: A Response To The Minister Of Education’s Utterances BEAM arrears soar past US$292 million but government orders schools not to send learners home