Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has assured stakeholders that Zimbabwe will soon introduce a comprehensive School Financing Policy aimed at addressing the economic challenges currently affecting the country’s education sector.

Speaking during a consultative meeting held at Rainbow Towers in Harare this week, an official from the Ministry, Collen Jonasi, said the policy was still in development and that stakeholder input remained critical to its success.

“This is not the first consultation. We have held previous engagements with various stakeholders, and these discussions will continue until a policy that truly reflects the realities on the ground is finalised,” he said.

Jonasi highlighted that education remains central to Zimbabwe’s economic growth, poverty reduction, and human capital development.

“Education improves productivity and is crucial for economic growth and poverty reduction. Better education enhances sustainable development outcomes, yet investment in the sector has often been inadequate and inefficient both domestically and internationally,” he said.

He noted that while the national budget allocation to education has been increasing steadily from 14.7 percent in 2021 to 15.7 percent in 2024 and a projected 19.4 percent in 2025, more effort is needed to ensure that every learner benefits.

Jonasi added that although Zimbabwe has made significant progress in school enrolment and achieving gender parity, economic challenges such as inadequate funding, reduced quality, and lack of access particularly in marginalised communities—remain pressing obstacles. The new policy is expected to address these gaps while also improving accountability and transparency in resource management.

“The Ministry values the input of all stakeholders gathered here and elsewhere. Your contributions are vital and will not go unnoticed as we develop a policy that works for everyone,” Jonasi assured participants.

Montrose High School headmaster Johnson Musanhu praised the inclusive nature of the consultations.

“We expect the upcoming policy to address the challenges facing the education sector. The Ministry has managed the process well, involving students, teachers, unions, headmasters, the private sector, and civil society,” he said.

Israel Gwatidzo from Masaisai Trust stressed the need for the policy to tackle the mushrooming of unregistered schools and the widening student-teacher ratio, which he said negatively affects the quality of education and contributes to social problems such as drug abuse among learners.

School Development Committee Chairperson, Alfred Deredzi, welcomed the initiative, saying the policy would ensure education for every child, including those in hard-to-reach areas.

“This policy comes at the right time to make sure no child or place is left behind,” he said.

The Ministry is expected to conclude consultations before finalising and launching the policy later this year.