2024 Government Gazetted School Fees

The fees vary depending on the school level and location. For primary schools, the fees range from US$5 per term for P3 rural schools, to US$10 per term for P2 schools in high-density suburbs, and US$20 per term for P1 low-density suburban schools.

Although the fees are denominated in US dollars, parents and guardians have the option to pay in the local currency at the exchange rate on the date of payment for Zimbabwean pupils.

For secondary schools, Statutory Instrument 240 of 2023, Education (Tuition and Boarding Fees) (Government Schools) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023 (No. 1), sets the tuition fees at US$40 per term for S1 schools in low-density suburbs, US$20 per term for S2 schools in high-density suburbs, and US$10 per term for S3 schools in rural areas.

It's important to note that parents only contribute a small fraction of the total costs, as the State covers the salaries of teachers in Government schools and some other expenses. This support from the State is not extended to pupils who live outside Zimbabwe, who are required to pay the full cost without assistance from the Zimbabwean taxpayer.

For foreign pupils, regardless of the school's location, the primary tuition fees are set at US$300 per term, and for secondary schools, the fees are US$400 per term. These fees are also payable in US dollars.

Although the number of foreign pupils is limited, the fees they pay highlight the level of support provided by the Government to Zimbabwean pupils. The fact that Government school teachers are civil servants assigned to schools, rather than being employed by schools, is the primary advantage.

The tuition fees collected by the schools are used for purchasing materials and covering other necessary expenses. In addition to the gazetted tuition fees and the expanded BEAM program that covers fees for pupils from the poorest families, many Government schools also request a top-up levy from parents through the schools' development associations. However, such charges must be approved by the Ministry and require the majority agreement of parents.