#Foreverychild, a Dream School!
As the new school year has started in Zimbabwe, let us join hands to ensure all children can enjoy successful learning in an enabling and safe school environment.
#Foreverychild, a Dream School!
A new school year has started in Zimbabwe. Millions of children have now resumed their education. UNICEF wishes all the children of Zimbabwe a successful school year in 2024.
The African Union has called 2024 the Year of Education to transform education in Africa and build resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning throughout the continent.
In a recent survey conducted by UNICEF throughout Zimbabwe ahead of World Children’s Day, most of the 500 participating children mentioned education as their most important right. Most children added to be happy in their school and willing to be involved in the organization of their school, turning their school into… a Dream School!
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, UNICEF and its partners in the education sector, including the United Kingdom and the Global Partnership for Education, are rolling out programmes to promote access to quality education for all children and to develop all aspects that constitute a good school delivering all the services children need in school, turning their school into a Dream School that is climate resilient and green and provides digital learning.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in a joint effort with UNICEF and partners, has embarked on an ambitious GIGA programme to have all schools connected to the internet by 2030. The Ministry, UNICEF, and partners have set up the Learning Passport to ensure teachers and learners can access educational material and content easily. Also, as part of the Re-Imagine Education toward digital learning and the Clean Green Zimbabwe agenda, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is piloting a solarisation project in 154 schools.
Dream school: Public Service Announcement
Zimbabwe has a high net enrollment ratio in primary school. Nine out of ten children of primary school age are in school. This figure has remained stable in the last decade. The country targets universal enrollment of children in primary school. Zimbabwe performs well in net enrollment at the primary school level, but pre-primary schooling remains a challenge. Only six children out of ten aged 3 to 5 are enrolled in pre-primary education. Half of the adolescents in Zimbabwe aged 13 to 19 are not in school. Only one child out of ten children with disabilities is in school.
Poverty and disabilities are among the main triggers for children in primary school age out of school. Because of poverty, parents lack the resources for school fees, leading to school absenteeism and school dropouts.
Free education is critical to providing access to learning for all children in the country. The Constitution of Zimbabwe requires all practical measures to be taken to promote free and compulsory primary education for children. The Education Amendment Act of 2020 further emphasizes that every child shall be entitled to mandatory primary state-funded education. Today, the Government of Zimbabwe is investing 14.9% of its expenses in education, below the engagement made at global fora to invest at least 20%.
UNICEF calls upon the Government to allocate 20% of the national budget to education and invest in education infrastructure, digital devices and connectivity, the greening of schools, learning material, teacher education and motivation, protection and access for vulnerable children, and making schools climate change resilient and emergency prepared.
Key Figures
14.9% of Government spending goes to education, below the globally agreed target of 20%
2/3 of consulted children said they want to be involved in the organisation of their school
9 out of 10 primary-age children are in school
Only 10% of children with disabilities are in school
35.5 % of the schools in Zimbabwe are connected to the internet
Six children out of ten aged 3 to 5 are enrolled in pre-primary education
Half of the adolescents in Zimbabwe aged 13 to 19 are not in school
154 schools in Zimbabwe are being solarized with UNICEF’s support