Online Reporter
Mkhululi Ncube, [email protected]
AN increasing number of private entities and individuals are investing in Zimbabwe’s education sector, establishing new schools across the country and partnering with the Government to expand existing infrastructure, a new report has revealed.
According to the 2024 Annual Statistical Report, there are 3 853 schools in the country owned by non-state actors, with individuals owning 1 552 primary schools and 516 secondary schools. The report categorises non-governmental players to include churches/missions, mines, private companies, farms, trusts and individual proprietors.
However, the Government, through line ministries, local authorities and town boards, remains the largest provider of education, operating a total of 7 494 primary and secondary schools in 2024.
“The country has the majority (66,45 percent) of its primary schools run by the Government, with just 33,55 percent managed by non-governmental entities. A similar pattern is evident in secondary schools, although with a slightly higher share held by non-government actors. Government-run secondary schools constitute 65,33 percent,” the report states.
The distribution of Government primary schools is as follows: 290 under central Government, 62 under line ministries, 4 774 run by district councils, 169 by city councils and 30 by town boards. Among the 2 689 privately-owned primary schools, churches/missions own 552, farms 80, mines 42, private companies 300, trusts 133, individuals 1 552 and others 30.
By province, Bulawayo has the highest number of private individual-owned primary schools at 130, followed by Midlands with 133, Masvingo with 70, Matabeleland South with 33 and Matabeleland North with 20. Churches are the second-largest contributors in the non-governmental sector, owning 553 primary and 391 secondary schools countrywide.
“Harare has the highest proportion of government-run primary schools (65,71 percent), with other line ministries accounting for 5,71 percent and town boards 2,86 percent. Matabeleland North and Bulawayo show higher proportions of Government primary schools managed by district councils (97,05 percent) and the city council (41,54 percent), respectively. Harare is also more likely than other provinces to have non-government primary schools run by trusts (10,65 percent).
“Matabeleland North records the highest proportions of non-government schools owned by churches/missions (53,21 percent), mines (6,42 percent) and other actors (4,59 percent). Masvingo, Bulawayo and Mashonaland Central lead in non-government primary schools run by farms (7,07 percent), private companies (20,58 percent) and private individuals (72,22 percent), respectively,” the report reads.
Regarding secondary schools, the Government owns 218, line ministries 32, district councils 1 906, city councils 18 and town boards, 19. Of the 1 164 non-government secondary schools, churches/missions own 391, farms 9, mines 8, private companies 121, trusts 85, individuals 516 and others 34.
The report also highlights a scarcity of boarding schools, particularly at the primary level.
“Zimbabwe has only 14 primary boarding schools compared to 7 833 primary day schools and 167 combined day and boarding institutions. At the secondary level, there are 67 boarding schools, 2 916 day schools and 374 offering both day and boarding options. Boarding secondary schools make up just two percent of the total, but this is still higher than the proportion of primary boarding schools.”
The report further indicates that the majority of schools are located in rural areas: 70,74 percent of primary schools and 72,38 percent of secondary schools are rural, compared to 29,26 percent and 27,62 percent in urban areas, respectively. Zimbabwe has a projected school-going population aged between four and 18 years of 5 898,724, with males and females comprising 49,93 percent and 50, 7 percent, respectively.
The report concludes: “The number of schools continues to grow to meet the demands of a rising population.” — @themkhust
derick.khumalo