Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
AS schools open for the second term on Tuesday, the Government has reiterated its commitment to universal education and declared zero tolerance for school dropouts under any circumstances.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has already adopted the Early Warning System (EWS), an ambitious programme aimed at training stakeholders in the education, law enforcement, health, and social services sectors, as well as community members, to detect the early signs that may lead to children dropping out of school.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerai Moyo, made these remarks during a visit to an EWS training session held at a local lodge in Inyathi, Bubi District, Matabeleland North Province, on Wednesday.
The training, attended by educators, social workers, psychologists, members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Victim Friendly Unit, health personnel and officials from the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, was also supported by Camfed, a non-profit organisation that addresses challenges faced by girls excluded from education.
The purpose of the training was to equip district trainers with the skills necessary to tackle the issue of school dropouts in the district. These trainers, in turn, will train others at the cluster level in line with the Government’s zero-tolerance approach to schoolchildren failing to complete their education due to obstacles such as teenage pregnancy, lack of funds and child labour, among others.
The training focused on the three pillars of EWS, which include re-admission of school dropouts, retaining students already in the education system and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to high dropout rates.
“Education is the most powerful weapon that can transform any nation and change the world for the better. The Government of Zimbabwe strives to provide quality, inclusive, equitable and relevant education for every learner across the country,” said Minister Moyo.
“As such, we don’t want to hear that any child has dropped out of school for any reason. To achieve universal education in this country, the Government has introduced the Early Warning System to tackle the problem of children dropping out of school.
“Children should have access to education, which is a fundamental right enshrined in our Constitution. There should be no reason, whatsoever, for any student, whether a boy or a girl, to drop out of school.”
Minister Moyo explained that EWS trainees need to understand the various reasons behind school dropouts to appreciate the challenges children face in society and their daily lives.
“We need to understand why children are dropping out of school. Is it because of the long distances they have to walk to school? Is it due to socio-economic challenges? Is it because of teenage pregnancies or child labour practices?” he asked.
The EWS trainees, as part of the first group to be equipped with the necessary skills, will be empowered to identify the root causes that lead to learners dropping out of school.
“There are certain signs and symptoms you should be able to pick up before identifying a child as a possible dropout, such as when a child consistently arrives late for school. This should raise concern,” he added.
To prevent children from disadvantaged backgrounds from dropping out of school, Minister Moyo said the Government has put in place safety nets, including the Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam). This programme aims to assist vulnerable and marginalised children by covering school fees, examination fees and other levies.
“Some learners come from poor families and may face challenges such as a lack of uniforms. A child walking to school without shoes may feel isolated. In other instances, some parents may not send their children to school because they are disabled. However, as the Government, we have said no to the discrimination of children based on disability because disability does not equate to inability,” said Minister Moyo.
“Research has shown that children living with disabilities tend to perform better than those who are able-bodied.”
The EWS training also explored ways to ensure that schools provide a safe and protective environment for all learners.
