NEW: ‘Use education to fight social vices’

Online Reporter

EDUCATION can be a potent weapon in fighting the scourge of child sexual abuse and early marriages, especially in farming communities, a Government official has said.

Drug abuse and other criminal activities are rampant in farming communities.

However, Mashonaland Central acting provincial education director Mr Alexander Mutenha believes education could be a key tool in curbing such social vices.

Mashonaland Central commemorated the International Day of Education at Amandas Primary School in Concession on Friday last week.

It ran under the theme “To invest in people, prioritise education.”

School heads, teachers and learners from different schools in Mashonaland Central attended the celebrations, which were hosted by the Farming Communities Education Trust (FACET).

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education strives to raise awareness for access to inclusive and equitable education as a basic human right,” said Mr Mutenha.

“Also, the ministry strives to promote gender equality in education. Use education as a tool in the fight against drug, alcohol and substance abuse,” he said.

Learners in farming communities tend to face several problems.

Some of them walk long distances to school, while cases of early child marriages are prevalent.

FACET is advocating for improved and equitable education opportunities for people in rural and farming communities.

Its information and advocacy officer Ms Shamiso Mutape said: “As FACET, we have a project called Girls Education Advocacy in the Region (GEAR). We are advocating for inclusive and equitable education to every child in the farming communities.

“We are working in farming communities doing capacity-building training to help young adults and adolescent girls to access education. We teach them about the dangers of child marriages.”

FACET also helps impregnated teenagers by providing them with opportunities to return to school.

The International Day of Education, which is recognised by the United Nations, is commemorated on January 24.