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Harare – The United Kingdom, through its department for International Development (DFID), will next month provide $10 million that will benefit more than 250,000 primary schoolchildren from vulnerable families.In a statement, DFID said the fund will benefit children from 5,415 primary and special schools who are under the government’s Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam).
Head of the DFID office in Zimbabwe Jane Rintoul said the funding will contribute to higher attendance and completion rates among orphans and vulnerable children.
“The UK is very pleased to be able to provide this additional support which I know will make a huge difference to the lives of the children who will benefit along with their families and wider communities,” she said.
The funding by DFID is in response to the government’s request for additional funding. Rintoul said DFID also commends government for its policy directive to freeze school fees and levies in 2014, saying the move, if enforced, will ensure more children are supported under BEAM.
“DFID also encourages the Government of Zimbabwe to redouble its efforts to find additional funding sources for Beam given that this is likely to be the UK’s final contribution to the Beam programme,” she added.
Government this year suspended BEAM assistance to special schools, a development which educationists said would affect children with disabilities.
BEAM pays school fees for the underprivileged children. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter