By Staff Reporter
Inasmuch as Zimbabwe has managed to see 90 percent of children to school, much needs to be done to reduce the number of out of school children for the nation to realise inclusive education, Unicef Representative to Zimbabwe Dr Tajudeen Oyewale said.
With the world commemorating the International Day of Education, Dr Oyewale said the day provides the country a change to evaluate its progress regarding the provision of policies which direct positive attitudes towards education.
“We commend Zimbabwe for the high net enrollment ratio in primary school, with nine out of ten children of primary school age in school.
“However, only six children out of ten aged 3 to 5 are enrolled in pre-primary education, and an estimated half a million children of primary and lower secondary school age are out-of-school (MICS).
“These data remind us to continue to work together under the leadership of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to address the challenges that keep children out of school,” he said in a statement.
He noted that the African Union has dedicated the year 2024 to education.
“In 2024 – for the first time ever – the African Union will dedicate the year to education. This offers an opportunity for the Government of Zimbabwe to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education for all, which includes turning the high-level commitments made at the Transforming Education Summit (2022) focused on education financing, foundational learning and inclusive learning, into concrete actions,” the Unicef Representative to Zimbabwe said.
A 17-year-old Beitbridge learner Nobuhle Nokutenda Sibanda during the World Children’s Day commemorations held last December said it is important to ensure that every child has equal access to quality education regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, and circumstances.
“Inclusive education is not only a matter of policy, but a moral imperative enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child. Article 24 states that all children, including those with disabilities, have the right to education that is free from discrimination and that meets their needs. This is further emphasised in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which specifically addresses the right to inclusive education. Article 11 of the Charter states that all children have the right to education, and it is the role of the Government to provide adequate resources and support to inclusive education,” she said.
