ZBC
www.zbc.co.zw
8 September 2010
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has reiterated the inclusive government’s commitment and determination to deliver on its promises and to rebuild the economy.
Addressing guests at the launch of the Education Transition Fund, Mr. Tsvangirai said the inclusive government was formed on a commitment to stabilise the economy and to restore basic social services and the launch of the fund is testimony to the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises.
“We have the Work Programme in which we have prioritised education funding within our national budget and this, together with the enormous support we have received from the international community, is now having tangible results,†the Prime Minister said.
Government, in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the international donor community have embarked on a nationwide drive that will see all the 5 575 primary schools receiving educational supplies, stationery and text books for all the 4 core subjects.
The exercise will see a total of 12 000 metric tonnes of school supplies and 13 million text books being distributed across the country during the next three months.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart expressed optimism that the programme will be extended to secondary schools.
UNICEF country representative, Dr Peter Salama said the initiative will see the pupil-to-book ratio being reduced from 1 book for 10 pupils to 1 book per pupil.
Other speakers at the function included Norwergian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Gunnar Foreland, who was representing the donor community and the Minister of Labour and Social Services, Ms Paurina Mpariwa.
Braille textbooks and equipment for blind pupils have also been sourced under the fund.
20% of the textbooks are being printed in the country, while the remaining 80% are printed in the SADC region.
The next phase of the fund will focus on providing teachers’ guides and textbooks for marginalised indigenous languages like Venda, Shangani, Tonga and Nambya.
Zimbabwe’s education sector was one of the areas hit hardest by underfunding by the Zimbabwean Government during the last 20 years. The country, according to the UNDP, now boasts of having the highest literacy rate in Africa.