Sunday Mail
12 September 2010
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE Government identified education as a high priority area for 2011 and has adopted a strategic plan to improve the welfare of teachers and to ensure that marginalised children have access to education.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Senator David Coltart last week confirmed that Cabinet had approved a short-term plan on the revival of the education system.
“Cabinet unanimously agreed that the revival of the education sector is a top priority and that more resources should be channelled into the sector,†said Sen Coltart.
“The strategic plan was welcomed by all the parties in Cabinet and at the moment we are working on a budget that will see this short-term plan kick off.â€
Sen Coltart said while the Government would primarily fund the strategic plan, the ministry would also seek donor funding. He said the strategic plan had key objectives that would see the welfare of teachers and school children enhanced. “Our main objective is to see our teachers’ welfare being improved. There is also need to provide adequate learning materials,†said Sen Coltart.
The plan would also focus on assisting marginalised children, especially in rural areas, to have access to education and learning materials.
The sector has faced serious challenges over the past 10 years.
Last week, the Government and the international donor community unveiled a 13-million textbook facility worth US$52 million that will see each pupil in 5 575 primary schools countrywide receiving a set of four basic textbooks.
The current pupil-to-textbook ratio stands at 1:10 while 20 percent of primary schools in rural areas have no textbooks at all. Through the facility, each child will receive Mathematics, English, Environmental Science and either Shona or Ndebele textbooks.
The identified schools will receive stationery and steel cabinets.
The Education Transition Fund, a Government and donor partnership, was initiated a year ago with the aim of mobilising resources for the sector.