Govt to ensure access to quality education

Lawrence Chitumba Correspondent
Minister of State for Mashonaland Provincial Affairs  Monica Mavhunga has reiterated Government’s commitment to ensure access to quality and inclusive education.

Her comments come as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has this year established and registered 15 schools in the province from a targeted figure of 25.

In a speech read on her behalf by the director in her office, Mr Admore Shereni, during an education indaba held recently in Concession under the theme; “Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s rights first,” Minister Mavhunga said the country cannot talk about upholding the rights of children without mentioning full access to education for children with disabilities.

“The Government has worked tirelessly to ensure access to quality, inclusive and relevant education for all children of school-going age. The province boasts of 514 primary schools and 236 secondary schools with the undying dream of having at least one school within a 5km radius for primary and 10km radius for secondary school learners,” she said.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has a target of establishing and registering 25 schools this year alone and by now they have registered and established 15 schools with nine of them being primary and six being secondary schools.

“For two years, the ministry has been embarking on community outreach programmes where the community is sensitised on the importance of education and resultantly almost 500 school-aged children were brought to school.”

She said a total of 296 special needs facilities have been established to cater for learners with different disabilities within the mainstream schools which include special classes and resource units for learners with mental, visual and hearing challenges.

Minister Mavhunga said traditionally, learners with disabilities were sent to special schools but the era of inclusive education has brought back some of the learners to be enrolled in local schools which have adapted their infrastructure including accessible toilets, and rumps and rails in classrooms to accommodate learners with disabilities.