Govt to clear schools’ shortage, warns illegal institutions

By STAFF WRITER

GOVERNMENT has plans to build more schools in a bid to clear a national deficit of about 2 800 schools, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo said yesterday.

Dr Moyo said this during the weekly Post Cabinet briefing.

He said that the shortage was behind the proliferation of unregistered private schools in high density areas. 

Moyo also warned the illegal schools to either register with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education or face closure.

 “They are operating illegally, in fact, we are going to come up with a paper that I will present in Cabinet where we are going to outlaw those schools, perhaps we might give them a grace period depending on what Cabinet would have recommended. We are going to close all the schools operating illegally.”

He said the illegal educational institutions were making it difficult for the ministry to ensure that there is quality, equitable and inclusive education.

“But in the so-called private schools that we have seen, somebody will have a school in his or her own backyard, and learners are squeezed or jam-packed in a very small room and chances of diseases spreading are high because the conditions compromise quality.

During the Cabinet briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere presented progress reports made in the implementation of priority projects for the 100-day cycle of 2024.

He said the Primary and Secondary Education ministry progress report indicated that  40 newly built and existing satellite schools in all provinces were near-completion, while upgrading of school infrastructure, rehabilitation and upgrading of classroom blocks administration offices, accommodation, water and sanitation hygiene facilities at 11 schools were on course for completion by end of the cycle.

“The construction and conversion of 100 laboratories at schools in Manicaland, Matabeleland North, Harare Metropolitan, Masvingo, and Mashonaland provinces is on course for completion by the end of the cycle and the construction of four sustainable and affordable boarding facilities in Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland East provinces to reduce walking distances for learners is on course for completion by end of the cycle,” Dr Muswere said.

Moyo was recently honoured with the Africa Educationist of the year Award from the Global Skills Hub United Kingdom at the closing ceremony of the 2nd Africa Education Summit held at the University of Nottingham.

The award is in recognition of his contribution to education for African children.