Action
UNICEF aims to improve access to quality education by providing relevant teaching and learning materials in order to bring back and maintain children in school. In response to the huge shortage of learning materials, the collected effort of various donors has helped in the formation of the Education Transition Fund and the Revitalisation of the Basic Education Assistance Module. These two programmes aim to support the supply (ETF) and the demand (BEAM) sides of education by rebooting the pupil textbook ratio to at least 2:1, while also ensuring that vulnerable children are readmitted into the schooling system. The ETF is being supported by the Governments of Australia, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the United States Under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) OVC have had their fees and levies paid and are supplied with uniforms and stationery. Gender sensitive life skills education has also been given to children through the Girls Education Movement (GEM) clubs and the auntie Stella packs. UNICEF has also supports the construction and furnishing of classrooms in schools across the country. In addition, schools are equipped with water and sanitation facilities which include toilets and hand washing facilities. In a bid to promoting and improving quality education for primary and secondary education through child friendly schools, connecting classrooms is an initiative that is gaining momentum in Zimbabwe. Connecting Classrooms aims to promote the use of technology (computers, internet, cell phones) in every primary and secondary school to enhance learning; dialogue and participation of school going population. In partnership with the Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, ECONET and the international donor community, UNICEF is working towards accelerating this initiative. Through the Early childhood and development programme, UNICEF has supported 10 model centres with the training of parents/caregivers and paraprofessionals on parenting education and toy production. Child Friendly Schools have been fitted with out and in doors play equipment. Food Security projects have been supported through the schools with support of nutrition gardens to benefit students and their families.
The child Friendly school initiative will act as a complementary intervention to the ETF and BEAM that targets a specific aspect of the CFS framework. The mainstreaming of the CFS project is designed to take advantage of the momentum raised by the MoESAC through the reconstruction of the education sector to mainstream a child rights based framework that can now be greatly enhanced by the resources, partnerships and opportunities presenting themselves.
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