Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
THE participation of the private sector in the ongoing transformation of Zimbabwe’s education sector has been commended for contributing to equitable access to high-quality education for all learners.
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are proving to be a game changer, helping to improve education outcomes and address infrastructure gaps across the country.
Government stakeholders and education experts note that such collaborations are essential in accelerating progress towards inclusive and sustainable education development.
This Wednesday, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Torerayi Moyo, commissioned a two-storey class room block at Focus Academy in Waterfalls.
The completion of the modern facility was hailed as a powerful demonstration of complementarity between government and private entities.
“We are happy with the modern facility, which has interactive boards as well as an additional computer lab. As upper six students, this will assist in conducting research as well as revision work for our final year examinations,” a learner, Hari-Rare Handitye said.
”I aspire to be an agricultural engineer, and the expansion of our science and computer laboratory will help me achieve my dream. Learning in a spacious environment is a welcome initiative; it helps me concentrate on my work,” a student, Blessing Rusike said.
“We were faced by the dilemma of finding a good school for our children in the neighborhood and this facility proves to be a perfect place considering the Christian background and state of the art learning environment,” a parent said
The learning institution’s founder, Mr Darlington Dumba, pledged commitment to an overall improvement in the quality of education.
“We commit ourselves to supporting the government’s efforts in reducing the education infrastructure gap and ensuring the teacher-student ratio is low. The government can not do it alone, that’s why we are supporting the government,” he said.
The efforts align with the government’s vision of modernising educational infrastructure.
“This collaboration is a testament to the power of collective effort in driving progress in our education sector. By working together, we are not only building infrastructure but also shaping the future of our nation.
“This state-of-the-art facility is more than just a physical structure. It is a power forcatalystst for delivering high-quality education that aligns perfectly with the principles of the heritage-based curriculum.
“By providing a conducive and well-equipped learning environment, this facility will foster our creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills in our learners. Our curriculum will be greatly enhanced by this coded infrastructure.
“I am confident that this facility will empower the focused academy to provide education that is not only relevant and engaging but also aligned with the needs of our nation, “Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Torerayi Moyo said.
Upgrading school infrastructure is critical in improving academic performance and learning conditions for students.
