US$292 Million BEAM Crisis Deepens As Government Takes Action Over Schools
Zimbabwe’s Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) arrears have climbed to US$292.49 million (about R4.68 billion), with government issuing a fresh warning to schools over the treatment of learners whose fees are covered by the programme.
The development was raised in Parliament on 21 August 2026, after MPs questioned reports that some BEAM-supported learners were being sent home despite the government owing schools money.
BEAM Debt Accumulates From 2023
According to VicFallsLive, Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mercy Dinha said the arrears had accumulated since 2023 because of limited fiscal resources.
BEAM supported nearly 1.86 million beneficiaries in 2023, leaving US$62.58 million (about R1.00 billion) outstanding. Another US$117.77 million (about R1.89 billion) was added in 2024, while US$112.14 million (about R1.80 billion) was recorded in 2025.
Dinha said Treasury had released ZiG84.88 million in 2026 towards partially settling the outstanding amounts, with another ZiG10 million allocated towards examination fee arrears owed to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC).
Minister Warns Schools Over Learners
MP Pupurai Togarepi told Parliament that some schools were sending home between 70% and 80% of BEAM-supported learners.
“I have many schools whose students are getting support through BEAM but 70 to 80 percent of students are sent home,” Togarepi said.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo said schools were not permitted to exclude learners because of unpaid fees.
“Government policy does not allow exclusion of learners from school,” Moyo said.
He said some headmasters had already been suspended after turning learners away and promised another statement before the third term to reinforce the directive.
The government says the Treasury is expected to provide additional funds to address the outstanding BEAM debt before the end of 2026.
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