"Schools Are Allowed To Produce And Sell Uniforms"
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says schools are allowed to manufacture and sell uniforms to learners.
Schools, however, should not force parents and guardians to buy uniforms from them if there are cheaper options. He said:
This was said by the director for Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro, in an interview with State media. Ndoro said:
Schools are allowed to produce their own uniforms and sell them to the parents, it is very correct.
The uniforms have to be affordable and cheaper than the open market so that parents have access to them.
We also said the uniforms must meet the right quality, colour schemes and branding in order for them to be sold by schools.
What is wrong is then forcing the parents to buy strictly from the schools.
They must not be forced to buy where they do not want and where it is expensive.
In January this year, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) wrote to the Goromonzi High School headmaster demanding that he allows two pupils into the school despite their failure to buy uniforms sold by the school.
The human rights lawyers were representing the father of two minors who were barred from attending lessons for not buying uniforms from the school even though they paid school fees in full.
The lawyers said Goromonzi High School was selling its uniforms at exorbitant prices, yet they were of similar quality to those sold by shops.
