Tendai Matunhu

The enrolment in both primary and secondary schools is on an upward trend, an official in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has said.

The official said the increase in enrolment statistics showed that there was a growing demand for both primary and secondary education. For Primary Schools the enrolment for 2015 was 2 658 415, then in 2016 the enrolment grew to 2 662 010 which was a 0.14% increase from the previous year.

In 2017 the enrolment shot up to 2 676 485 making a 0.54% increase, then in 2018 it grew to 2 725 970 with an increase of 1.85%. Last year, the enrolment increased to 2 789 692 with an increase of 2.35%.

Secondary school enrolment also marked an increase. In 2016 there was an increase of 3.68% with an enrolment of 1 064 804 up from 1 026 984 in 2015. In 2017, there was an enrolment of 1 075 325 which was an increase of 0.99%. In 2018, enrolment was at 1 093 550 which was a 1.69% increase and last year, the enrolment grew to 1 124 881 which was a 2.87% increase.

The official said statistics for 2019 showed that there were 6 671 primary schools in the country, of these 78.64% are established schools, 15.75% are satellite schools and 5.61% are not even registered. The source went on to say that there are 2 954 secondary schools with 69.09% being registered schools, 28.88% are satellite schools and 2.03% are not registered at all.

The Ministry official said Government was making strides to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Government is also making strides in upgrading satellite schools and regularising schools that are not registered.

Zimbabwe is one of the African countries with the highest literacy rate. The education system is highly esteemed in the continent and he world over. Zimbabwe has also made strides in establishing tertiary institutions. Before independence, there was only one university in the country.  Today, the country boasts of at least a university in every province.