171 primary, 31 secondary schools in Bulawayo operate outside law

A TOTAL of 171 primary schools and 31 secondary schools in Bulawayo are operating outside the formal regulatory framework as they lack requisite registration approvals, according to the latest Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) report compiled by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.

This comes as the Government is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to bring all unregistered schools under set standards amid revelations that about 1,600 learning centres do not meet these guidelines.

According to the Government, a school cannot be registered unless it meets the minimum standards, verified through physical inspection, such as adequate and safe classroom blocks, appropriate sanitation facilities (Blair toilets or flush systems per national standards) and access to a reliable and safe water source, proof of ownership or a long-term lease agreement for the land on which the school operates.

The findings come amid growing concern over the rapid expansion of schools, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, where demand for education has outpaced regulatory processes.

Bulawayo alone has 252 registered primary and 99 secondary schools. Nationally, the report indicates that Zimbabwe has 11,793 schools, comprising 8,308 primary schools (70.4 percent) and 3,485 secondary schools (29.6 percent). Of these, a significant number remain outside the formal registration framework.

At the primary level, 6,045 schools are registered, while 894 operate as satellite institutions and 1,369 are unregistered.
At the secondary level, 2,557 schools are registered, 697 are satellite schools and 231 remain unregistered.

A provincial analysis shows that Manicaland has the highest number of registered primary schools at 867, followed by Masvingo (814) and Midlands (774). Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West also recorded substantial numbers, with 740 and 623 registered primary schools, respectively.

However, Manicaland also leads in the number of unregistered primary schools at 349, followed by Mashonaland Central (226), Mashonaland West (160) and Midlands (155). These provinces account for a significant share of unregistered institutions nationwide.

Despite being highly urbanised, Bulawayo (171) and Harare (137) also recorded notable numbers of unregistered primary schools. The trend is largely attributed to population growth in peri-urban areas, where the establishment of learning institutions has outpaced formal registration processes.

At the secondary level, Manicaland Province again tops the list with 343 registered schools, followed closely by Harare (340), Mashonaland East (338) and Masvingo (334), reflecting a relatively balanced distribution across the country.

Unregistered secondary schools are fewer in comparison, suggesting stronger regulatory compliance at this level. Mashonaland East (42) and Mashonaland Central (39) recorded the highest numbers, followed by Mashonaland West (37), Manicaland (33) and Bulawayo (31).

In contrast, Matabeleland North (2), Matabeleland South (6) and Masvingo (10) reported the lowest numbers of unregistered secondary schools, indicating near-universal compliance in those provinces.

“Education remains a key pillar for national development and human capital transformation in Zimbabwe. The availability of accurate, timely, and reliable education data is, therefore, essential for informed decision-making, effective policy implementation, and accountability across the education sector. It is against this background that I present this Education Management Information System (EMIS) Report,” said Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Torerayi Moyo.

He said the EMIS serves as the primary mechanism through which the Ministry systematically collects, analyses and disseminates education statistics from schools and education institutions nationwide.

“The data presented in this report provide critical insights into pupil enrolment and participation, education infrastructure, human resources, and other core indicators that are vital for planning, monitoring, and evaluation,” said Minister Moyo.

Director of communications and advocacy in the ministry, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said the Government was actively implementing a multi-pronged strategy to bring all unregistered institutions into the formal regulatory framework.
He said the high numbers in specific provinces, as highlighted in the report (notably Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, and Midlands), are largely driven by the proliferation of learning sites in new settlements (resettlements) and peri-urban growth points.

The Chief Director of provincial education services has been directed to conduct intensified inspections and registration drives in hotspot districts. This involves guiding proprietors on the legal requirements and timelines for compliance,” said Mr Ndoro.

He said Section 39 of the Education Act (Chapter 25:04) empowers the Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education to close a school operating without registration if it poses a risk to learner welfare or fails to meet minimum standards.

Mr Ndoro said a significant number of schools captured in the “unregistered” data stream are actually satellite schools (894 Primary, 697 Secondary), adding these are legally recognised extensions of registered “mother” schools, established to ease distance barriers. “While they appear in administrative data as ‘unregistered’ pending full autonomy, they operate under the legal supervision of a registered authority and are on a structured pathway to full registration,” said Mr Ndoro.

He said the registration of a school is governed by the Education Act (Chapter 25:04) and the Secretary’s Circular No. 7 of 2009.

“The ministry is deeply concerned about the impact on learners. As the EMIS 2025 data implies, unregistered schools often operate with significant resource deficits. As noted in Chapter 9 of the report, unregistered and lower-category schools have significantly lower access to electricity, adequate ICT infrastructure, and sometimes even safe sanitation,” said Mr Ndoro.