Newsday
By Fortune Moyo
5th April 2011
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart says he has secured donor funding for the re-introduction of night school programmes in the country.
Coltart told NewsDay the programme which was popular between the early 80s and 90s would be back soon.
“As a ministry, we have resolved to re-introduce night school programmes in the country and we have already managed to secure funding to pay teachers for the extra lessons,†he said.
“Night schools were very popular in the 80s and 90s and they benefitted a lot of people.â€
Coltart said night schools gave school dropouts another chance to get basic education.
“After hours schools are expected to equip people with the necessary education, in line with government’s Millennium Development Goals,†he said.
Thousands of people dropped out of school before the inception of the inclusive government, as parents failed to pay school fees because of hyperinflation and economic meltdown.
Thousands of teachers also left the country to seek employment in neighbouring countries.
Night school is part of non-formal education in Zimbabwe, which includes lectures provided outside of the regular educational institutions and often includes correspondence courses, adult literacy campaigns and study groups.
People who take advantage of night school education opportunities include those who are unable to access the formal educational system for various reasons.
Generally the programmes used are similar to those offered in a formal education setting, and they cover elementary education all the way up to tertiary education.