
Online Reporter
STRENGTHENING collaborations and synergies between the Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is essential to address challenges faced by children and people with disabilities (PWDs) in enjoying their right to education.
The call comes as Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Education.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative to Zimbabwe, Dr Tajudeen Oyewale said the collaboration will ensure the country achieves the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.
“We commend Zimbabwe for the high net enrolment ratio in primary school, with nine out of 10 children of primary school age in school.
“However, only six children out of 10 aged 3 to 5 are enrolled in pre-primary education and an estimated half a million children of primary and lower secondary school age are out-of-school (MICS).
“These data remind us to continue to work together under the leadership of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to address the challenges that keep children out of school,” said Dr Oyewale.
Signs of Hope Trust, an organisation that represents people with disabilities weighed in by advocating for access to information for all through education.
Samantha Sibanda, the director of Signs of Hope said: “We are advocating for access to information and freedom of speech. We have increased the call for access to the Internet and ICTs for persons with disabilities.
“This year in particular, our programming in the first quarter of the year is dedicated to assessing the extent to which ICTs are available to people with disabilities in Zimbabwe and proposing guidelines for improving access.”
The education system, she said, must be inclusive and uphold the rights of persons with disabilities.
“We therefore call for the extension of the Education Curriculum to equip children with skills in interacting peacefully, and with respect both online and offline, to put in place mechanisms to provide mental health support for children who encounter online hate, and to consider criminalising cyber hate and other forms of online abuse,” said Sibanda.
The International Day of Education is commemorated annually on January 24 to celebrate the role of education in peace initiatives and development.
This year, the day is running under the theme; “Learning for lasting peace”.