Story by John Nhandara
Government has constructed more than 100 new schools this year as the drive to invest in school infrastructure gathers pace.
In a significant investment aimed at enhancing the country’s landscape, the government has announced the completion of 105 new schools across urban and rural areas this year alone in a development Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Honourable Torerai Moyo says will improve access to quality education.
“We have a deficit in terms of the number of schools that we want to construct to the tune of 2 800 new schools in 2024. As a ministry, we have managed to construct 105 new schools these are schools that have been built by the government through disbursements from the fiscus. We also have public-private partnerships which have resulted in the development of new other schools,” said the Minister.
Honourable Moyo says the government is seeking to reduce the travelling distance of learners in accessing the nearest school in line with international standards which stipulates that the distance must not exceed five kilometres.
He said, “We want to reduce the working or travelling distance of students from their homes to the school, it should be within the recommended international convention that students should not walk for more than five kilometres.”
Government’s investment in the educational infrastructure is consistent with sustainable development goal number four which targets to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of lifelong opportunities for all citizens.
