BEAM Arrears Balloon To US$98 Million

The government has failed to release enough funds for the Basic Education Assistance Model (BEAM) over the past several years, and the arrears have now ballooned to nearly US$100 million.

BEAM is a government programme that pays school fees for vulnerable children who can’t afford them. It supports orphans, child-headed households, and children from poor families, helping them access primary and secondary education.

Schools say BEAM funds often arrive long after the term starts, disrupting operations and forcing them to ask poor families for fees.

Presenting the 2026 National Budget on Thursday, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube revealed that US$98 million is now owed to schools in BEAM funds.

The government is now proposing a five-year plan to clear the arrears—a move that could put rural schools, where BEAM uptake is high, at risk.

In the budget, education received the single largest vote, to support salaries, new classrooms and school equipment. The vote for primary and secondary education is ZiG47.4 billion (US$1.55 billion).

Ncube also disclosed that the government owes US$23.48 million to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) and US$28.50 million to the Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS), which mainly serves government employees and their families, as well as some private sector workers.

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