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Zimbabwe: The Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM)
01 January 2006
Country coordinator: Ngoni Mararike, RHVP Zimbabwe Country Co-ordinator
BEAM was launched in January 2001 as one component of the Enhanced Social Protection Project (ESPP). This collection of programmes formed a core part of the government's wider social protection strategy at the beginning of the millennium.
The other components of ESPP are Public Works (PWC), Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances (CEDC), Essential Drugs and Medical Supplies (EDMS), and the development of a longer-term Social Protection Strategy (SPS). BEAM's main development objective is to prevent irreversible welfare losses for poor households who resort to extreme coping mechanisms, like withdrawing children from school, in response to increasing poverty. It is a national school fee assistance programme targeting vulnerable children of school-going age (ages 6–19) and is implemented by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture.
The high levels of poverty, brought about largely by the worsening macro-economic situation in the country, and its effects on national net enrolment rates at both primary and secondary levels provided BEAM's rationale. Since 2001 the macro-economic situation has worsened considerably, further increasing the demand for BEAM. Today BEAM still manages to provide tuition, levy and examination fees assistance, targeting children who have never been to school or who have, or are likely to, drop out of school due to lack of funds. In 2005 the BEAM budget was Z$195 billion and assisted 969,962 pupils representing 27% of enrolment. In 2006 the budget is Z$414 billion and will assist an estimated 905,724 pupils.
The BEAM model also provides for community participation in beneficiary selection through school selection communities. A BEAM Community Selection Committee, consisting of three members of the school development committee (one of whom is the school head) and at least six elected community representatives, select eligible children. A new selection committee is selected each year. Councillors and traditional leaders are not eligible for election to the committee, with their role limited to mediation in the event of disputes.
At the start of each school year, the selection committee is advised of budget allocations for primary, secondary and district allocation for special education to assist vulnerable groups. The budget allocations determine the total number of children to be assisted each year. The fee structure of the schools to which the children will be enrolled also determines the number of students to be assisted through BEAM. The selection committee convenes a meeting annually to select potential beneficiaries based on pre-determined criteria eg whether the beneficiary is an orphan, has never been to or has dropped out of school due to economic hardships, or is living on the street. The committee also receives nominations for beneficiaries from community members. The committee determines the final list for consideration based on the fee structure and the budget allocation for each category ie primary, secondary and special schools. The list of selected students is publicised to enhance transparency and accountability.
BEAM is a robust mechanism with the potential to have positive far reaching impacts on the poorest. It is a good example of how governments can work closely with communities to develop sustainable structures which can appropriately target and assist vulnerable children.
For more information contact the author at
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