Story by Bruce Chahwanda
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged investors to harness existing Public-Private Partnerships and Joint Ventures in the development of the education sector to create long-term returns.
The heritage-based education curriculum, which emphasises science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, has resulted in a paradigm shift in the education sector, hence the need for requisite infrastructure.
It is with this in mind that President Mnangagwa indicated the importance of Public Private Partnerships (PPPS) in the sector at the commissioning of 17 schools at Makumumavi Primary School in Chikomba this Thursday.
“The education sector provides scope for investment which is estimated at more than US$4 billion. I, therefore, invite investors to take advantage of the investment prospects that the education sector has to offer. Opportunities have arisen for Public-Private Partnerships and Joint Ventures in the development of the education sector while creating long-term returns for various stakeholders.
“The government has created an investor-free environment. I expect stakeholders in infrastructure development within the education sector to particularly focus on more classroom blocks, laboratories, technical and vocational workshops; ICT infrastructure, as well as power, water and sanitation facilities. In addition, the construction of sporting facilities, which house diverse sporting codes, beyond the traditional football and netball, must be catered for,” he said.
President Mnangagwa added that the government is putting in place measures to ensure every child has access to education.
“As a result of these and other ongoing projects, the proportion of out-of-school children must be zero. The ZANU PF Government is committed to putting in place the requisite ecosystem to ensure that children do not walk long distances to attend school as well as the reduction of absenteeism and school dropouts. No child must stay at home, or drop out of school,” he added.
The President reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure no one goes hungry in the wake of the El Nino-induced drought.
“Once again, I want to assure the nation that no one will die of food insecurity. Government has made the required arrangements to guarantee that we have enough grain to feed all our people,” he said.
Stakeholders in the education sector were also reminded of the need to continuously fight against drug and substance abuse from family level to schools and communities.
