Councillors complain of lack of textbooks access for students in council schools
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Loading... - Roseline Ngugi
- 03 Oct 2024
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Councillors in Bulawayo have raised concerns over the Bulawayo City Council's (BCC) failure to supply textbooks to students in council-run schools, despite parents consistently paying a book levy.
According to the latest council meeting minutes, Ward 20 Councillor Sandra Sibindi of Zanu PF highlighted the issue, noting that even though parents had paid the levy, no textbooks were provided when schools reopened. Consequently, parents were left to purchase the required textbooks themselves.
Councillor Mercy Furanayi echoed these concerns, emphasizing that parents were shouldering the burden of buying books in addition to paying the levy.
In response, the Housing and Community Services Department explained that while the levy funds are collected by the schools and transferred to the council, the amount collected is insufficient to purchase textbooks for every student. The funds, which were reportedly ring-fenced, did not cover the necessary purchases.
When approached for further clarification, BCC's Corporate Communications Manager, Nesisa Mpofu, indicated she would investigate the matter further as she was attending a meeting at the time of inquiry.
