Online Reporter
Muchaneta Chimuka
A QUARTER of the country’s Grade Three learners cannot read and write proficiently, highlighting a critical literacy crisis facing the country’s primary education system, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo has said.
In response, the Government has launched the End Learning Poverty For All in Africa (ELPAF) Campaign, aimed at equipping schools and teachers with the necessary resources to tackle these challenges.
Minister Moyo emphasised the urgency of intervention, stating that the initiative seeks to improve foundational learning outcomes across the country.
The campaign, officially launched in Harare last week, is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, and development partners.
It seeks to bridge gaps in literacy and numeracy, especially among early grade learners.
The launch followed findings from the 2024 Zimbabwe Early Learning Assessment (ZELA), which revealed that 25 percent of Grade Three learners still face significant difficulties in reading and writing.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Moyo said the campaign represents a collective vision to address the continent’s educational challenges.
“According to recent global estimates, nearly 70 percent of children in low- and middle-income countries are affected by learning poverty. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, up to 90 percent of 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand a simple sentence in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
“While closer home, our annual Zimbabwe Early Learning Assessment 2024 report indicates that 25 percent of the current Grade Three learners cannot read and write proficiently. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to enhance literacy and numeracy among our young learners.”
Minister Moyo stressed the importance of education financing in achieving national development goals.
“Together, we are taking a vital step towards realising our collective vision for Africa’s future. We appreciate the African Union Commission on Education, whose presence underscores the continental significance of this initiative,” he said.
“We are here today because we are facing a crisis, a silent predicament, one that affects millions of children across Africa, which is learning poverty. This predicament is a challenge that threatens to undermine decades of progress made in education.”
The ELPAF Campaign was initiated by the African Union (AU) as part of its broader education agenda.
It is designed to mobilise governments and stakeholders at all levels to confront learning poverty, a crisis that leaves children unable to read or comprehend age-appropriate material by the age of 10.
“The launch of ELPAF in Zimbabwe marks a pivotal step in uniting governments, organisations and communities in a shared vision to improve educational outcomes and ensure that every child in Africa has the opportunity to succeed.
“ This initiative embodies a collaborative approach to create a brighter future for Africa,” said Minister Moyo.
He stressed that foundational learning, including literacy, numeracy and socio-emotional skills, is the cornerstone of long-term educational success.
Minister Moyo applauded the AU for its leadership in putting education at the forefront of Africa’s development agenda.
Representing the African Union Commission, head of education Mrs Sophia Ashipala reiterated the AU’s commitment to inclusive learning.
“The Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25) offers a vital framework for the transformation of our education systems, guiding us towards a more inclusive and effective approach to learning across the continent.
“Together, we can ensure that every child has access to quality education,” she said.
This campaign is aligned not only with the AU’s CESA goals, but also with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
United Nations Children’s Fund country representative Ms Etona Ekole echoed this vision.
She said their goal is to protect children’s rights and ensure that every child is safe, healthy and educated.
Online Reporter