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By Joyce Mukucha
British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Melanie Robinson yesterday paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education where they discussed various issues aimed at strengthening the education system in Zimbabwe.
Ms Robinson said her country was committed to supporting and improving Zimbabwe’s education system through equipping teachers with required skills and resources.
The conversation also included issues pertaining new curriculum, the global Covid-19 pandemic effects on education as well as development and implementation of strategies and mechanisms to curb brain drain in the education sector ensuring creation of a conducive and safe learning environment.
“It is important to note that the government of Zimbabwe committed 20 percent of its budget to education sector for infrastructure and developmental outcomes. We will be encouraging government to fulfil the commitment,” she said.
She highlighted that when it comes to the UK funding, Britain has been a real partner in Zimbabwean education for years.
“We have provided over £240 million for the last 10 years supporting primary schools so they have quality education for the people and also boys and girls to continue the education,” Ms Robson said.
Ms Robson indicated that the support to Zimbabwe include provision of effective skills teachers ought to apply in disciplining students indicating that corporate punishment doesn’t have a place in Zimbabwean school so that children can be safe to learn.
“So we are providing to the government some of the techniques we that can be used by a teacher if you got children that are maybe not behaving in the classroom.
“Those are techniques that we use British schools now to teach children for discipline and in classroom and they have been working for decades in the UK and we are proud to provide that Zimbabwe so that it can also develop.”
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said the conversation between the ministry and the British government was fruitful as it unpacked efforts being made to enhance Zimbabwe education sector.
“The meeting with the British Ambassador in Zimbabwe was really an eye opener. It revealed the amount of work that we are doing with the British government in supporting our education system,” said Minister Ndlovu.
She added that the ministry was pleased to receive such support especially focusing on the well-being of the girl child and as well as vulnerable children ensuring that they access education.
“We are also very grateful that they are actually supporting the girl child in all means and they will be working with us to make sure that girls that are out of school or in school and the disadvantaged children continue to benefit from the programmes that they have with us.”
Concerning Covid-19 Dr Ndlovu said the pandemic has affected learning highlighting that radio, telecommunication and networks were being used to reach out to many students.