Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MANICALAND is recording significant progress in keeping children in school, with education authorities reporting improved completion rates at both primary and secondary levels, amid sustained efforts to reduce school dropouts, especially among girls.
Provincial education statistics show that primary school completion rates increased from 90,45 percent in 2024 to 91,44 percent in 2025, while secondary school completion rates rose sharply from 63,45 percent to 75 percent over the same period.
The gains were attributed to Government interventions, awareness campaigns and community-based initiatives aimed at ensuring that more learners complete their education.
Chief Director for Provincial Education Services in Manicaland, Mr Richard Gabaza, described the improvement as encouraging, particularly at secondary school level where completion rates increased by more than 11 percentage points.
He said the figures demonstrate progress in retaining learners beyond primary education, and ensuring that more children continue with their studies.
“We are encouraged by the improvement in our school completion rates, particularly at secondary level, where we have recorded a significant increase. Our expectation is that these figures will improve even further by the end of the 2026 school year as we continue working towards ensuring that every child who enrols in school has an opportunity to complete their education,” said Mr Gabaza.
He added: “School completion is an important measure of progress because it shows whether we are succeeding in retaining learners and equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need for the future. We particularly want to see more girls progressing through the education system without being forced out by circumstances that can be addressed.”
The improvement comes against a backdrop of longstanding challenges that have traditionally affected learners, especially girls in rural communities, where child marriages and teenage pregnancies have often interrupted schooling.
However, the trend is beginning to shift in some of the province’s most affected areas.
Mutare District, which includes parts of Marange that have historically recorded high levels of child marriages and teenage pregnancies, is now witnessing encouraging gains in learner retention.
A schools inspector in Mutare District, Dr Doit Chikanyau, said more girls are completing Grade Seven and enrolling for secondary education, while those already in high school are increasingly remaining in class and achieving good academic results.
“We are seeing more girls completing Grade Seven and proceeding to Form One than ever before as a district. In our secondary schools, the story is the same, with girls staying in school, performing well and dreaming bigger. That is what empowerment looks like,” she said.
Dr Chikanyau said female enrolment levels are increasingly approaching parity with those of boys, reflecting progress in reducing dropout rates among girls.
“There has been a marked improvement in our district in terms of dropouts, particularly among girls. The percentages of girls in our schools are now almost on a 50-50 basis with boys.
“This is a positive development, especially in schools within the Marange area where we previously experienced significant challenges of girls leaving school because of teenage pregnancies and child marriages before completing their education.”
She credited the improvement to educational programmes, awareness campaigns and school-based policies that encourage girls to stay focused on their studies.
Community outreach initiatives and partnerships with development organisations have also strengthened efforts to protect vulnerable learners and promote education as a pathway to empowerment.
“These activities are important because they are both informative and transformative. They help our children appreciate the value of education and inspire them to remain in school. We are seeing high completion rates at Grade Seven and other levels, which is a very positive development for our girls,” said Dr Chikanyau.
Despite the progress, education officials say child marriages and teenage pregnancies remain major contributors to school dropouts in the province.
Statistics provided by Mr Gabaza show that marriage and pregnancy continue to account for a significant proportion of female learners leaving school, particularly at secondary level.
So far in 2026, a total of 616 secondary school learners have dropped out because of marriage. Of these, 599 were girls, while 17 were boys who had impregnated the girls.
A further 228 learners left school due to pregnancy, comprising 227 girls and one boy who had also impregnated a fellow learner.
At primary school level, 12 girls dropped out because of marriage while eight left school due to pregnancy.
The combined figures show that 884 learners have dropped out of school in Manicaland this year because of marriage and pregnancy.
Provincial data further shows that marriage accounted for 35,4 percent of female secondary school dropouts in 2026, while pregnancy contributed 13,42 percent.
Together, the two factors continue to represent one of the biggest threats to girls’ education.
Last year alone, 592 learners dropped out of school between April and June, with girls accounting for 407 of those cases.
School completion rates soar as more girls stay in school
