The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
Zimbabwe has one of the highest enrolment rates in primary schools on the African continent, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.
In a statement on Tuesday to mark International Day of Education, UNICEF representative Dr Tajudeen Oyewale said the country has maintained its enrolment rate over the past 10 years.
“Zimbabwe has a high net enrolment ratio in primary school. Nine out of ten children of primary school age are in school.
“This is among the highest enrolment rates in primary school on the African continent. 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 enrolment of children in primary school,” he said.
Dr Oyewale commended the country for introducing free education in schools, adding that more investment is required for basic education.
“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child highlights access to free primary education as a fundamental right of every child.
“This is reiterated by the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Government has expressed its clear ambition to make access to basic education free for every child in Zimbabwe as of 2023,” he said.
Dr Oyewale said in order to explore new avenues of public funding for education, and to build on the Ministry and Secondary Education’s draft Schools Financing Policy, UNICEF in partnership with Government, as well as the Zimbabwe Economic Society is organising the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Education Financing on January 25.
The day, which is celebrated annually on January 24, seeks to celebrate and evaluate education.
