01/09/2022
Infant School Registration Process in Zimbabwe
INTRODUCTION
In the past, I have had to deal with various inquiries on how one can register an Infant School in Zimbabwe. In my earlier post, I covered the "Organisation of the Education System in Zimbabwe" where I touched on the levels of the school system. Infant level is the first tier of Primary Schools and it encompasses ECD A, B, Grade 1 and 2 Classes. This means ECD Centres and Preschools offering ECD A and B Classes fall under the Infant Level.
REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR INFANT SCHOOLS
1. First Stage: Special Consent Application
In terms of Section 26 of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act, Revised Edition 1996, an Infant School Owner has to apply for a permit for development (which sometimes involves change of use of the property to commercial purposes). Change of use is required if the property was not originally intended for school purposes. The permit for development is also referred to as Special Consent.
The application for the permit requires one to have the following:
• A completed application form (obtained from the respective local authority)
• Justification report detailing the proposed development
• Payment of Application Fees and Regularization Fees
• Attach 20 copies (A4 size paper) of site plan from the Surveyor General’s Office showing your stand and neighboring properties
• Attach 20 copies (A4 size paper) of the floor plan of the building on the property showing intended use of the rooms
• Attach 20 copies (A4 size paper) of the layout plan of the property showing gate(s) and parking lot provision
When the application has been acknowledged, the applicant is required to file a notice of intention to use the property for ECD Center/Preschool/School purposes in a newspaper for a month. If there are objections the school owner is required to address these objections before the application is circulated to other Departments (Town Clerk, Evaluations, and Health etc.). The application is then presented before a full council meeting for a resolution to be made authorizing the proposed development subject to fulfillment of the Local Authority's Health Department and Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education requirements.
2. Second Stage: Health Inspection
The School Owner makes an application for a Health Inspection with the Local Authority's Health Department only after successfully obtaining a Development Permit (Stage One).
Application for a Health Inspection of the property being intended to be used as a school involves payment of the Application Fee and Health Report Fee (Paid after the Inspection).
Some of the things that Health Inspectors look for during a Health Inspection include:
• Availability of adequate and Safe Equipment for learners
• The type of flowers and plantations within the school environment
• Available play area and play equipment
• Size of the outdoor area (It should be 5,5 square meters per child)
• Available indoor area (It should be 2.5 square meters per child)
• Available Toilets (1 hole:12 children)
• Wash Basins (1:6 children)
• Number of children to be enrolled will be determined by outdoor area, toilet ratio. The least determines the number of children
• Available Kitchen Facilities and proof of medical examinations for food handlers and teaching staff.
3. Third Stage: Compilation and Submission of Application files to the District Schools Inspector (Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education)
4 files must be submitted to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education containing the following:
a) Special Consent Permit, Health Certificate and Report (obtained in First and Second Stage)
b) Memorandum of Understanding/Constitution (to include a section on School Advisor who must be a MoPSE Representative from the position of School Head upwards)
c) Proposed name of the Infant School
d) Physical Address of the Infant School
e) Area to be served by the Infant School
f) Number of the learners to be enrolled on opening and their age ranges. N.B One facilitator for 20 learners.
g) Names and qualifications of teachers/facilitators to be employed.
h) Medical Certificates and x-rays of staff.
i) Floor plan and site-plan.
j) Indoor space area 1:2,25 square meters
k) Outdoor space area with shade 1:5,5 square meters.
l) Toilet Closets 1:12 should be age appropriate
4. Fourth Stage: Registration with ZIMRA
Schools are supposed to register with ZIMRA in compliance with the tax laws of the country. Schools are required to keep records of all their business operations and must remit taxes to ZIMRA. Schools must apply for a ZIMRA tax certificate.
5. Fifth Stage (Labor Laws)
Registration with NECWEI (National Employment Council for the Welfare and Educational Institutions). All Schools should register with NEC as employers. Employer pays a once off registration fee. Monthly levies are 2% from the employer and 2% from the employee’s basic salary excluding allowances. The employer deducts the levies and the deduction should show on the employee’s salary slip. Deductions are then remitted to NECWEI.
Lets continue the discussion in the comment section or on my whatsapp number.
For more information get in touch with me:
Chivandire Leariey Morris
Tel/Whatsapp: 0775469645/0719469645
