Former Mt Pleasant MP Fadzayi Mahere has challenged Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo to urgently intervene in the mounting US$98 million owed to schools under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).

BEAM is a government initiative designed to pay school fees for vulnerable learners — including orphans, children from child-headed households, and pupils from low-income families — to ensure access to primary and secondary education.

During last week’s 2026 National Budget presentation, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube disclosed that schools are currently owed US$98 million in BEAM payments.

Mahere criticised the government’s failure to release the funds, describing the prolonged arrears as unacceptable and damaging to the education sector.

“Paying what you owe is not optional. It’s a must,” she said. “It is irresponsible to allow arrears of this nature to go unsettled for three years. Please do the right thing.”

Minister Moyo responded by stating that BEAM falls under the Ministry of Public Service, arguing it is not his role to pressure Treasury for the outstanding payments.

Mahere, however, dismissed that explanation, insisting that the affected schools and learners fall directly under Moyo’s mandate.

“You cannot bury your head in the sand and ascribe the problem to someone else,” she argued.

“Are you not concerned about the adverse consequences of schools being incapacitated due to a lack of funding? What explanation is being given for this irresponsible failure to pay school fees for BEAM beneficiaries? What is your Ministry doing to avert this crisis?”

She also questioned what steps had been taken to implement a recommendation made in 2024 by the parliamentary committee on Budget, Finance and Economic Development, which urged that BEAM administration be moved from the Ministry of Public Service to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to reduce bureaucracy.

As the BEAM funding crisis deepens, stakeholders now await clarity on whether government will act on Mahere’s call to safeguard learning for thousands of vulnerable children.