Here are cheapest boarding schools in Zimbabwe… as government issues directive to all illegal private schools

Zimbabwe’s education minister has urged unregistered private schools to comply with the law, warning that failures in administration can put pupils’ examination opportunities at risk. His remarks came as a 2026/27 guide to affordable boarding schools listed estimated fees ranging from US$389 to US$500 at 11 institutions around the country.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo made the appeal at the official opening of Makumbe Hilltop College in Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East, on Wednesday, October 21. The new boarding school is among the institutions named in the fee guide, which places its average charge at US$389, the lowest figure on the list.

The school is in Matukutu village along Domboshawa Road, about 46.5 kilometres from Harare, and offers Cambridge and Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) programmes, according to its published information. Moyo praised private investors for helping expand access to education, but said schools must operate within the country’s regulatory framework.

“As we encourage the growth of private educational institutions, I wish to emphasise that this growth must be accompanied by strict adherence to the policies and regulations governing the provision of education in Zimbabwe,” he said.

He described registration as a protection for pupils, parents and the education system, saying: “Registration is not merely an administrative formality; it is an important safeguard for learners, parents and the integrity of the education system. It assures the public that an institution is recognised and is accountable to the relevant education authorities.”

Moyo’s main concern was the handling of public examination entries and payments. He said authorities had encountered cases in which non-governmental institutions collected examination fees before securing the required registration. He did not identify the schools involved.

“Such practices compromise the welfare of learners, undermine parental confidence and threaten the credibility of our national assessment system,” he said. “No child should lose an examination opportunity because of administrative negligence, financial mismanagement or the failure of an institution to fulfil its obligations.”

He called on school administrators to keep enrolment and examination registration accurate, handle examination funds transparently and meet prescribed deadlines. Schools were also told to communicate clearly with parents so eligible pupils are registered and ready to sit their examinations. Moyo urged provincial and district education officials to strengthen oversight from school registration through examination administration.

The Education Act requires non-government schools to be registered. The law also sets out registration requirements concerning suitable premises, teaching, teachers’ qualifications, financial provision and equipment. Amendments provide for registration and annual fees for certain private schools, with exclusions for government and local authority schools and non-profit-making faith-based schools.

The minister’s appeal renews attention on a compliance issue that had already been raised by the government. In 2025, Moyo told Parliament that unregistered schools had been given until December 31 that year to regularise their operations, after a period intended to avoid disrupting pupils who had already registered for examinations. At the October 21 opening, he again called for compliance and stronger monitoring, but the account of his remarks did not announce a fresh deadline or name institutions facing closure.

Cheapest boarding schools: fee comparison

The fee guide, updated on September 25, 2026, ranks the following schools by average fees in US dollars:

The figures offer parents a starting point for comparing schools, but they are average estimates rather than a detailed bill. The guide does not itemise what is included in each amount, and it advises families to confirm current fees with the schools or education authorities before making enrolment or payment decisions. Its accompanying budgeting advice describes boarding-school costs on a per-term basis, but families should ask each school to confirm the period and charges covered by its quoted figure.

That distinction matters because a headline fee may not show the full cost of starting at a boarding school. Families may need to check for separate charges, including uniforms, examination costs, transport, meals or other school requirements, and whether costs vary by form or programme. The available list does not provide an item-by-item breakdown for the 11 schools.

Makumbe Hilltop College’s inclusion in the affordability list does not establish that it is unregistered. The school hosted the minister’s official opening, and the fee guide names it as the lowest-cost school in its comparison. The warning was directed at unregistered private schools generally; no connection was made between that warning and any of the schools in the price ranking.

For families considering a place, the two issues raised this week point to separate checks: whether a school is registered and whether its full fee schedule fits the household budget. Moyo’s comments focused on lawful operation, pupil protection and examination administration. The cost guide offers a preliminary comparison, but parents will need current, school-specific figures before deciding.