Regime change invades pupils’ textbooks

The Patriot By Mashingaidze Gomo 30 March – 5 April The Coltart story in The Herald issues of March 21 and 22 makes interesting reading. Under the Education Transition Fund, UNICEF sponsored Zimbabwean schools with textbooks to the commendable ratio of one book per student. The tender to supply the books was awarded to Longman Zimbabwe. The

Textbooks donated by British aid to Zimbabwe end up in hawkers’ hands

The Telegraph By Aislinn Laing 30 March 2012 Textbooks donated to Zimbabwe’s schools aided by British funding are being hawked on Harare’s streets, it has emerged, as Britain pledges another £23m for the country’s stricken education sector. Some 22 million books have been distributed to more than 3,000 schools since the UN-run programme was launched

Mugabe supporters hijack ICT event

Newsday 29 March 2012 Zanu PF supporters on Wednesday turned President Robert Mugabe’s launch of a government e-learning programme at Chogugudza Primary School in Domboshava into a party event, turning up clad in their party regalia and chanting praise songs for the 88-year-old party leader. MDC-T national organising secretary and Information Communication Technology minister Nelson

US$38m education fund Phase II signed

By Felex Share 28 March 2012 Government and its development partners yesterday signed a U$38 million agreement under the Education Transition Fund Phase II. The funds, provided by UKAid, are expected to enhance and improve governance systems and training of teachers. Unicef, working with the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, will manage the fund

20 pupils share desk in Matabeleland North: Coltart

27 March 2012 Education Minister David Coltart has warned that students from Matabeleland North are being crowded out of university opportunities because of a breakdown in education infrastructure in the province. On average, 20 pupils share a single desk in the province, while 17 share a bench. Presenting shock statistics, Coltart said of the 175,000

Zimbabwe Education Ministry Probes Resale of UNICEF-Donated School Books

VOA By Tatenda Gumbo 27 March 2012 Secretary general Raymond Majongwe of the Progressive Teachers Union says there is a loophole in the system allowing vendors to access the textbooks, which is a shame as school children are again missing out on a proper education. Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Education has launched an investigation after teachers

Huge Boost for Zimbabwean Schools

Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa By Richard Lee 27 March 2012 Zimbabwe’s education system has received a huge boost from the UK’s Department of International Development (DFID), which has announced that it is allocating US$38 million to the second phase of the Education Transition Fund (ETF). The Fund, which is managed by UNICEF, has

President to Launch E-Learning Programme

The Herald 27 March 2012 President Mugabe is expected to officially launch the e-learning programme at Chogugudza Primary School in Goromonzi District tomorrow. The massive computerisation programme targets all schools in Zimbabwe by 2015 as the country moves towards a knowledge based economy. Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa said: “His

Statement Regarding Illegal Sale of ETF Textbooks

Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Harare 27 March 2012 The Ministry of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture (MOESAC) wishes to announce the completion of the distribution of more than 22 million textbooks under the Education Transition Fund (ETF) programme. The ETF-supported distribution was a massive exercise carried out from late 2010 to early

Zimbabwe’s literacy rate now very poor

ZimEye 27 March 2012 Zimbabwe’s used to boast of one of the top literacy rates in Africa, but the nation is now worse than it was in 2002. Zimbabwe’s much touted literacy rate of more than 90% has been disputed as having been outdated since the figures are based on data collected by UNESCO and