adminPrecious Manomano
Herald Reporter
Youths are critical in the attainment of Vision 2030 of an upper middle income society, and for that to be realised, Government plans to pay examination fees for vulnerable pupils especially those living in rural areas so that they realise their potential.
Primary and Secondary Education Ministry’s director for communications and advocacy, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said in an interview supporting more pupils will help foster national development.
“Government expects the youth in the country to play a critical role towards attainment of an upper middle income economy by 2030 and this will be achieved through supporting education system and policy interventions aimed at creating an empowered youth, which is actively involved in national development.
“More pupils in rural areas will be targeted on this initiative.
“We do not want pupils to fail to sit for their examinations.
“Government emphasises on education and no negative developments will be allowed to take place in the education system,” said Mr Ndoro.
More importantly, Mr Ndoro said Government was doing its level best to improve the quality education across the country, particularly in rural schools.
“Government is upgrading the education system and moving towards free basic education,” said Mr Ndoro.
The Government has budgeted $1,7 billion towards the administration of the 2021 schools’ public examinations, with parents and guardians only required to pay 45 percent of examination fees.
The move is aimed at easing the pressure on parents whose incomes were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic since early last year.
The $1,7 billion translates to a 55 percent subsidy per learner, which is over 53 percent that Government committed last year when it released $150 million to the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) to subsidise fees for those learning at Government schools, local authority and not-for-profit mission schools.
Online Reporter