… all stakeholders must work together to realise this dream of every child
By Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe ranks among the highest enrollment rates in primary school on the African continent. Nine out of ten children of primary school age are in school.
This was said by UNICEF Representative to Zimbabwe, Dr. Tajudeen Oyewale in a statement to celebrate the International Day of Education.
“This figure has remained stable in the last decade, which is a remarkable accomplishment. But our shared ambition is to do even more and reach universal enrollment of children in primary school,” said Dr Oyewale.
He said the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child highlights access to free primary education as a fundamental right of every child. This is also reiterated by the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“The Government has expressed its clear ambition to make access to basic education free for every child in Zimbabwe as of 2023.
“For that to happen more investment is required for basic education. Poverty and disabilities are among the main triggers for out-of-school children in primary school. Because of poverty, parents and caregivers lack the resources for school fees, leading to absenteeism. This affects progress in ensuring inclusive education, especially for integrating children with disabilities who are often deprived of their right to learning,” he said.
Dr Oyewale also reiterated that education needs to be adapted to the changing environment.
“The Transforming Education Summit held in New York in September last year can further guide us. The Summit resulted in a call for all nations to support foundational learning as a key element to transform education; promote green education by making climate change education an integral part of learning; prioritize digital learning for all children; promote gender equity in education; and increase investment in education.
“Zimbabwe can build on the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic from the introduction of digital learning through Learning Passport and the expansion of the digital connection thanks to the Giga partnership,” he said.
