Quality education for all!
Education is a right for every child. More investments are needed to ensure all children have access to quality education.
Quality education for all!
As children in Zimbabwe have started the third term of the school year and the world leaders reflect at a global summit in New York about the need to transform education, UNICEF Zimbabwe calls on the Government of Zimbabwe to invest at least 20% of the government resources to education. Reaching the 20% target is needed to ensure access to quality education for all children in Zimbabwe, including the poorest children and the children living with disabilities. Today the Government of Zimbabwe is investing 13% of its expenditure in education, well below the engagement made by global to invest at least 20%.
Public school financing matters for student achievement. A growing body of evidence shows that an increased school budget leads to better student outcomes. A well-financed education sector leads to quality learning outcomes, inclusive quality inclusive teaching and learning, and increases girls’ participation. School financing increases access as it reduces the cost burden on families and hard decisions between survival and sending children to school. Also, parents are more willing to support schools when they see the Government is equally investing in schools.
Education Video
Key Figures
13% of government spending goes to education, below the globally agreed 20%
9 out of 10 primary age children are in school
Only 10% of children with disabilities are in school
By 2030 all schools should be connected to the internet
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. While the country should target universal enrollment of children in primary school, maintaining the current high level of enrolment is already a challenge.
While Zimbabwe performs relatively well in terms of net enrollment at the primary school level, pre-primary schooling remains limited. Less than one child out of three aged 3 to 5 years old, is enrolled in pre-primary education. And only half of the adolescents in Zimbabwe aged 13 to 19 are not in school.
UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to address the education challenges in Zimbabwe, with the support of donors. Donor-supported programmes such as the Education Development Fund aims to promote equitable access to education for all, including through programmes for School Improvement Grant, Early Learning, Out-of-school, and Non-Formal Education, Learners with Disabilities, and School Management, Governance and Leadership.
Triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in a joint effort with UNICEF has embarked on an ambitious GIGA programme to have all schools connected to the internet by 2030. Meanwhile, the Ministry, UNICEF, and their partners have set up the Learning Passport to ensure teachers and learners can easily access education material and content.