Online Reporter
Harmony Agere
Regional education leaders from across Southern Africa gathered today at the Harare International Conference Centre for the SADC high-level Ministerial Round Table Dialogue, focusing on advancing foundational literacy and numeracy within member states.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Torerai Moyo, officially opened the event.
He underscored the urgency of addressing disparities in early-grade education, noting that millions of children in the region still lack basic reading, writing and arithmetic skills.
“This dialogue is not merely a discussion; it is a call to action,” Dr Moyo said.
“As Ministers and leaders, we must champion policies that prioritise early-grade learning, invest in teacher training, and harness innovation to reach marginalised communities.”
Highlighting Zimbabwe’s leadership in promoting literacy, Dr Moyo cited the country’s historic success in adult education and its proactive efforts to strengthen early literacy.
Key initiatives include the Early Reading Initiative, launched in 2013 with support from the Global Partnership for Education and the adoption of the THRASS methodology to improve English literacy in early grades.
Zimbabwe has also implemented internal assessments at the end of Grade 2 since 2012 to monitor pupil readiness for further education.
The dialogue aligns with regional frameworks such as the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and global goals like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.
