Primary and Secondary Education permanent secretary, Tumisang Thabela has admitted that the ministry is buckling under pressure due to under-funding consequentially hindering delivery of education services in the country.
Speaking at a policy dialogue convened in Harare by UNICEF in conjunction with the Ministry of primary and secondary education, Thabela said there is a deficit of schools.
The revelation by Thabela lays bare challenges currently bedeviling the education sector which have witnessed teachers threatening to abandon classes over poor working conditions and remuneration.
Poor working conditions compounded by lack of schools’ infrastructure have led to teachers travelling across borders seeking greener pastures.
Last year, Parliament expressed concern with the current infrastructure with some classrooms of schools in rural areas made up of pole and dagga.
Parliamentarians also revealed that the ministry had failed to utilise over ZW$4.6 million that was allocated to it by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube for construction of schools last year.
Natural hazards have also been witnessed schools in areas like Gokwe whose classrooms were destroyed by rainfall but have not been refurbished due to lack of funding.
In a bid to lighten the current crisis, government has established satellite schools but they are falling short in accommodating the excess number of children.
Speaking at the same event, Zimbabwe Economics Society president Nigel Chanakira called on government and private players to collaborate in alleviating infrastructure challenges dogging the education sector.
He said the budget ratio of the Ministry is worrisome as it fails to tackle infrastructure problems of schools.
Nigel Chanakira said the 90 to 10 ratio is somewhat still worrisome because 90 percent is going to the current expenditure in terms of salaries and associated expenditures while wholly 10 percent going towards infrastructure development.
He added that as a society, there is an awareness of demands of new schools with a deficit of 3 000 schools.
Zimbabwe Education Ministry Bemoans Lack of Funding As Shortage of Schools Soars
Primary and Secondary Education permanent secretary, Tumisang Thabela has admitted that the ministry is buckling under pressure due to under-funding consequentially hindering delivery of education services in the country.
Speaking at a policy dialogue convened in Harare by UNICEF in conjunction with the Ministry of primary and secondary education, Thabela said there is a deficit of schools.
The revelation by Thabela lays bare challenges currently bedeviling the education sector which have witnessed teachers threatening to abandon classes over poor working conditions and remuneration.
Poor working conditions compounded by lack of schools’ infrastructure have led to teachers travelling across borders seeking greener pastures.
Last year, Parliament expressed concern with the current infrastructure with some classrooms of schools in rural areas made up of pole and dagga.
Parliamentarians also revealed that the ministry had failed to utilise over ZW$4.6 million that was allocated to it by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube for construction of schools last year.
Natural hazards have also been witnessed schools in areas like Gokwe whose classrooms were destroyed by rainfall but have not been refurbished due to lack of funding.
In a bid to lighten the current crisis, government has established satellite schools but they are falling short in accommodating the excess number of children.
Speaking at the same event, Zimbabwe Economics Society president Nigel Chanakira called on government and private players to collaborate in alleviating infrastructure challenges dogging the education sector.
He said the budget ratio of the Ministry is worrisome as it fails to tackle infrastructure problems of schools.
Nigel Chanakira said the 90 to 10 ratio is somewhat still worrisome because 90 percent is going to the current expenditure in terms of salaries and associated expenditures while wholly 10 percent going towards infrastructure development.
He added that as a society, there is an awareness of demands of new schools with a deficit of 3 000 schools.
