Tinotenda Hove- Zimbabwe’s Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) is facing a deepening funding crisis, with government arrears to schools now exceeding US$292 million and raising fresh questions about the sustainability of a programme meant to keep vulnerable children in classrooms.

The government has attributed the mounting debt to limited fiscal space, but the consequences are increasingly being felt by learners, with legislators reporting that some schools are turning away children whose fees are supposed to be covered by the State.

Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mercy Dinha told Parliament that BEAM arrears had accumulated since 2023, reaching a staggering US$292,492,316.46 by the end of 2025.

In 2023, BEAM supported 1,856,996 beneficiaries, but US$62,583,089 remained unpaid. The following year, 1,261,140 learners benefited, while arrears increased by another US$117,766,325.08.

In 2025, the programme assisted 950,192 beneficiaries, leaving a further US$112,142,942 unpaid in fees, levies and examination costs.

The figures expose a widening gap between government promises to protect access to education and its ability to meet its financial obligations to schools.

Dinha said Treasury had released ZiG84,876,800 during 2026 to partially settle debts owed to some mainstream and special schools, while another ZiG10 million had been allocated towards examination fee arrears owed to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC).

She said additional funding had been promised to clear the outstanding debt.

However, the growing arrears have already created serious problems on the ground.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo said schools were prohibited from excluding learners because of outstanding fees.

“Government policy does not allow schools to exclude learners because of unpaid fees,” Moyo said, adding that sending children home violated their fundamental right to education.

Moyo acknowledged that some schools had nevertheless been turning learners away and said action had been taken against those responsible.

He also indicated that he would issue another directive before the beginning of the third term to reinforce the government’s position.
The parliamentary debate further exposed disparities in BEAM payments between mainstream and special schools.