Regina Mundi grievances

The Provincial Education Director

Midlands Province

Ground Floor, Government Complex

10th Street

Gweru

10 October 2025

Regina Mundi Parents

Regina Mundi High School

P. Bag 9022

Gweru

Dear Sir/Madam

Re: Imposed Special Development levy and uniforms paid for but not availed for forms 1, 2,& 5 

We write to bring to your attention the above-mentioned issues and many others that we, as Regina Mundi High School parents, Gweru, are aggrieved of and seek redress from your esteemed office. Engaging the school through the SDC has not been fruitful as the SDC has become an extension of the school administration. 

Special Development Levy

At the beginning of the second term of 2025, the school ordered parents to pay a special development levy of $138/term per child for the next 4 years, money which was not invoiced. After some resistance from parents and an approach to your offices, on the 2nd of September 2025 the school wrote a letter to retract the request for payment of this fee. However, on Friday the 3rd of October and Saturday the 4th of October 2025, the school held 2 separate parents meetings, one with non-exam classes and the other with candidates’ parents. The Rector purported that parents had agreed to the payment of the special development levy and the school needed parents to vote for the bank to approach for a loan. In the first meeting parents refused to vote for the first and second banks then without voting the bank was announced as the chosen one, much to the disgruntlement of parents. The school announced that it was going ahead with the $138/term development fee which the parents never agreed to.

Development Fees for Form 1s and 5s

At Regina Mundi form 1s and 5s pay a development fee of $500 per child upon being admitted to the school. Parents raised the issue of accountability for that fund as it had been suggested that the fund should take care of the special development that was on the agenda. In response parents were informed that the Development Levy was not for the school but the Responsible Authority (RA). We pray that you shed light on the statutory requirements regarding School Development Fees being charged by schools according to the ministry of Education policies, regulations and guidelines. We believed the school is now double-dipping as they are charging us development fees twice.

School Uniforms

Regina Mundi charges every new student a flat fee of $715 for uniforms. As parents we have tried to raise an issue of overcharging as the most expensive uniform outlet in town charges almost half of what the school charges but in vain. We have read and heard that it is illegal for schools to force parents to buy uniforms from one source, we need your guidance in this regard. On the same note we have children who are now in form 4 and are still to receive the full uniform paid for 4 years ago let alone form ones and lower sixth for this year.

Teacher incentive

Considering the turnover rate at the school, parents were of the opinion that the school should avail accommodation for teachers as a way of incentivising them to stay at the school. The money that is paid as development levy should be used for such projects instead of introducing extra levies to cater for such.

School fees

Regina Mundi charges USD700-716 per term per child as the school fees for borders and $600 for day boarders. It is our view as parents that fees if on the high side as compared to most other mission schools in the country and is enough burden on the parent. As much as it was contested when it was increased to this figure, we as parents feel that no extra fees should be introduced as this may leave parents unable to meet their school fees obligations. 

Policies and procedures

We, as Regina Mundi parents seek guidance pertaining to what the ministerial policies require regarding application for approval of development project fees, purchasing of uniforms from a sole supplier and how parents should treat fees that have been imposed without approval letters. We also need guidance around payment of development fees by form 4s & 6s in the middle of their final term at the school. We would also want to inquire about the availability of approval letters for the current fees and the USD$500 Development fees paid by new entrants.

We seek your intervention on these matters as the school SDC has been turning a deaf ear to the parents’ plight whilst always fighting in the schools corner. This has left us parents with no option but to approach your esteemed office for redress.

Your usual assistance will be greatly appreciated 

Yours in education

Regina Mundi parents

J Sibanda    Contact the author of the petition