Story by John Nhandara
HARARE-THE government has intensified efforts to bridge the school infrastructure gap across the country, with plans underway to construct 120 new schools in 2025 through a multi-sectoral approach and diverse financing models.
In an interview with ZBC News, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Angeline Gata, said the initiative will include low-cost boarding schools and is being supported by both public-private partnerships and international funding agencies.
“Government has done a lot in trying to mitigate the deficit of schools. Our population is growing. The government does fund schools infrastructure through treasury. We also have partners like OPHID, we have 17 schools that have been built through partners so far. We are also doing low cost boarding schools,” she said.
She said the initiative is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to ensure access to quality education, especially in previously underserved communities.
In addition to building infrastructure, the government is enforcing the registration of informal and unregistered learning institutions to bring them in line with national education standards.
Deputy Minister Gata also reminded school authorities that sending learners home for non-payment of fees is prohibited, urging adherence to government policy.
“It is not allowed to send always learners for non-payment of fees. The contract of payment of fees is within the parent. We have heard reports of those and inspectors are on the on the ground. However parents are encourage to make fees,” she added.
The multi-pronged approach to improving education infrastructure is in line with the government’s commitment to achieving universal access to education under Vision 2030.
