'Don't Bar Children From School'

VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko last Friday said no children should be excluded from school for failure to pay tuition fees as Government's intention was to assume that burden on behalf of marginalised communities.

In a speech to mark Global Action Week for Education, VP Mphoko said education was a right in terms of the country's Constitution. The Global Action Week for Education commemorations were held under the theme: "Fund the Future: Education Rights Now."

"The Zimbabwe's Education Act (Chapter 25:04) also recognises and protects the right of all children to education. This is the first commitment that the Government of Zimbabwe does to show political will in providing education.

"It thus recognises education as both a development and legal necessity which the Government is duty bound to deliver," said VP Mphoko, in a speech read on his behalf by the principal director in his office, Mr Themba Ndlovu. VP Mphoko, who is also the Acting President, said Zimbabwe had done a lot in the area of education since the attainment of independence in 1980.

'Don't Bar Children From School'

"The implementation of the new curriculum is also a contribution of the turnaround strategy of the country's socio-economic trajectory. In that, regard the Government follows its plans through Zim-Asset and its commitment to improve the school infrastructure by constructing new schools, specialist blocks and also mainstreaming disability through child friendly infrastructure," VP Mphoko said.

He said Government had secured funds to roll-out the new curriculum that will go towards teacher professional development, learning materials, and equipment for ICT and STEM.

"It's no longer news that Zimbabwe has the highest literacy rate in Africa, but we must now focus on financing other forms of important literacies like ICTs, entrepreneurship and broad-based STEM initiatives," he said.