Quality Learning and Skills Development
UNICEF continues to partner with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) to support priorities under the 2021–2025 Education Sector Strategic Plan.
The Situation
To improve foundational learning outcomes, UNICEF supported a parental engagement programme in early childhood education, encouraging active parental involvement in literacy using story books.
The Situation
Zimbabwe’s education sector has experienced remarkable growth since the challenging period of 2008 and has demonstrated resilience in navigating the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite this progress, the system continues to exhibit signs of strain—most notably at the pre-primary level and during critical transition phases, such as the shift from early childhood education to primary school, and from primary to secondary education. Net enrolment in pre-primary education remains low, with only a marginal increase from 42.7 per cent in 2023 to 42.9 per cent in 2024. The transition rate from Grade 7 to Form 1 declined from 82 per cent to 79.5 per cent, highlighting systemic pressures that hinder progression. While girls had a higher transition rate (81.1 per cent) than boys (77.9 per cent), survival rates from Form 1 to Form 4 increased overall—from 76.4 per cent in 2023 to 80.6 per cent in 2024—but still fall short of the 85 per cent target. Boys demonstrated slightly higher survival rates than girls, as reflected in a Gender Parity Index of 0.95.
Encouragingly, survival from Form 1 to Form 6 rose from 12.4 per cent in 2023 to 13.9 per cent in 2024, with girls slightly ahead at 14.0 per cent compared to boys at 13.9 per cent. These figures highlight the progress made and the ongoing need for targeted support to ensure inclusive, quality education across all levels.
The education sector is grappling with insufficient resources to provide quality inclusive education; there is limited textbooks in schools to facilitate the effective roll out of the new heritage based curriculum; children especially in rural areas continue to walk long distances to schools and high teacher attritition among others.
The Solution
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
UNICEF continues to partner with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) to support priorities under the 2021–2025 Education Sector Strategic Plan. In 2024, the “My Dream School” back-to-school campaign, bolstered by advocacy and community outreach, helped boost pupil enrolment to 4,735,506, up from 4,750,441 in 2023.
To improve foundational learning outcomes, UNICEF supported a parental engagement programme in early childhood education, encouraging active parental involvement in literacy using story books. This initiative as further enhanced by the distribution of age-appropriate storybooks to 50,594 infant learners (25,331 girls and 25,263 boys) in six underperforming districts, helping to foster early reading skills.
To address school dropouts, UNICEF piloted an Early Warning System (EWS) in 103 schools, with 76 per cent of participating schools reporting improved enrolment and retention. By July 2024, enrolment in these schools had increased by 5.9 per cent, reaching 24,307 learners..
Recognising the ongoing economic constraints faced by schools, UNICEF provided school improvement grants (SIGs) to 2,799 disadvantaged primary and secondary schools, directly benefiting 893,784 learners by enabling continued access to inclusive and quality education. Additional SIGs were directed toward WASH and school feeding initiatives, contributing to improved learning environments and retention.
To promote innovation and sustainability in the learning environment, UNICEF completed the solarization of 154 schools, benefiting 62,487 learners and 1,710 teachers through enhanced teaching and learning conditions. These schools were also equipped with offline Learning Passport servers,to support blended learning approaches. The intervention contributed to improved teacher motivation and retention and fostered digital access for learners.
UNICEF in numbers
- 42.9% net enrolment in pre-primary education
- 79.5% transition rate from Grade 7 to Form 1
- 80.6% survival rate from Form 1 to Form 4
- 4,735,506 total enrolment of pupils nationwide
- 50,594 infant learners received storybooks in six districts
- 103 schools piloted an Early Warning System, with a 5.9% rise in enrolment
- 2,799 schools received school improvement grants, supporting 893,784 learners
- 154 schools solarised and supported with blended learning systems