MoPSE, UK International Development (UKID) and partners Celebrate Milestones of TEACH Programme, Sustained Support for Education Reform Urged

Harare, 11 March, 2025 - The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), in partnership with the UK International Development (UKID) and its implementing partners, this year marked the close of the Teacher Effectiveness and Equitable Access for Children (TEACH) Programme, a landmark initiative that has strengthened Zimbabwe’s education system since 2019, uplifted teaching quality, and expanded equitable access to learning for the country’s most vulnerable children.

With a budget of GBP 55.54 million, TEACH has been implemented by four specialized partners: Education Development Trust (EDT), Plan International and Think Equal, UNICEF Zimbabwe, who ensured national alignment, evidence driven programming, and sustainable, systemwide improvements in areas such as teacher development, school financial support, inclusive education, girls’ education, clean energy, innovation and monitoring and evaluation. 

Some of the key results include

• Improved access and equity in low‑resourced schools through the School Improvement Grants
• ECD promotion, and training of ECD teachers on modern pedagogical methodologies, leadership skills, and community engagement to address barriers faced by vulnerable learners.
• Improved foundational literacy and numeracy for marginalised girls and children with disabilities.
•Enhanced teachers’ pedagogical training, coaching, and capacity building on inclusive and gender‑responsive teaching.
•School inspection systems and safeguarding standards strengthened.
•More than 18 000 out‑of‑school girls aged 10–19 years provided with accelerated learning, life skills, vocational training, and safeguarding support.
•148 rural schools solarised to help address critical energy gaps in disadvantaged schools, thereby improving digital learning, administration, and climate resilience.
•Early Childhood Education strengthened through the delivery of the Think Equal Social and Emotional Learning programme across 3,284 ECD-B classrooms, aligning with the Heritage-Based Curriculum and contributing to the achievement of key infant learning outcomes.

"The Ministry extends its profound gratitude to UK International Development for the successful TEACH programme, which has significantly advanced the objectives of our Education Sector Strategic Plan and the National Development Strategy. The achievements highlighted above demonstrate the power of strategic partnerships in building a resilient and equitable education system. As we integrate the successful, evidence-driven approaches of TEACH into our national systems, we acknowledge that persistent challenges remain. We call upon all stakeholders to sustain this momentum, standing with us to ensure that every child in Zimbabwe has access to the quality education they deserve," said Taungana Ndoro, the Director of Communications and Advocacy.

Despite the achievements of TEACH, persistent challenges persist in the Zimbabwean education sector, notably with regard to access, quality, infrastructure, and equity. Consequently, a significant number of children remain out of school, while huge disparities exist in enrollment, attendance, and completion rates between rural and urban areas.

Educational quality also remains uneven across the country, while inadequate access to power continues to affect many schools, limiting digital learning and efficient school operations.

These gaps underscore the urgency of continued investment to preserve the progress achieved through TEACH.
“Through TEACH, we have seen what is possible when investment is directed toward the children who need it most - girls, children with disabilities, and those living in rural and marginalised communities. TEACH has delivered lasting improvements to Zimbabwe’s education system, from modernised classrooms and trained teachers to solar powered schools and strengthened safeguarding,” said Jo Abbot, Development Director & Deputy Ambassador at British Embassy Harare.

“These are investments with long term impact, and the United Kingdom is proud to have played a part in them alongside MoPSE and our partners. As TEACH concludes, our focus turns to sustaining this momentum. Continued collaboration and investment will be vital to protecting these gains and ensuring every child in Zimbabwe has access to quality learning.”