News / National
Zimbabwe's education sector saddled with billions in debt
06 Dec 2024 at 16:59hrs | Views
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Zimbabwe is grappling with significant financial challenges, with debts running into billions of Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, revealing the deepening crisis in the country's education sector due to years of underfunding.
During a session with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Moses Mhike, the ministry's permanent secretary, disclosed that the ministry owes substantial amounts, including a debt of US$51 million to the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec). When converted at the prevailing exchange rate of US$1:ZiG36, the debt amounts to ZiG1.8 billion, exacerbating the ministry's financial woes.
Mhike admitted that the ministry's allocated budget, which stands at ZiG46.64 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, is far from sufficient to meet the sector's pressing needs. He warned that the financial constraints were threatening the smooth operation of the sector, affecting everything from exam administration to teacher welfare. The education sector, encompassing both primary and secondary education, was allocated approximately 20.6% of the national budget, with the Higher and Tertiary Education Ministry receiving ZiG10.32 billion.
However, Mhike underscored that these funds are inadequate to address the range of challenges facing the education system, which include learner welfare, inadequate school feeding schemes, lack of proper sanitary ware, and insufficient support for students with special needs. He also highlighted the challenges in recruiting and retaining specialist teachers due to financial limitations.
Another major concern raised by Mhike was the ministry's inability to meet its capital expenditure needs. He cited stalled projects, including the construction of new schools, and ongoing litigations with contractors as additional burdens on the sector's resources.
The ministry's financial strain is compounded by non-payment of Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) funds, which is a government program designed to help underprivileged children pay their school fees. Mhike explained that many students, especially in rural areas, rely heavily on the Beam program. In some remote parts of the country, over 90% of students depend on Beam for their education. However, the government's failure to disburse funds in a timely manner has put the program in jeopardy.
"If Treasury manages to timeously release the allocated funds and the associated cash support for payment runs, the ministry will stand a better chance to deliver primary and secondary education services effectively," Mhike said.
Sifiso Ndlovu, the Chief Executive of Zimbabwe Teachers' Association, echoed Mhike's concerns, adding that Beam funds have largely remained a paper allocation, with Treasury failing to clear arrears from previous years. Ndlovu stressed that the intended fiscal intervention for education financing was being undermined by delayed disbursements, and called on the government to prioritize timely payments to ensure schools could meet operational costs.
Furthermore, the poor welfare of teachers was cited as another major challenge affecting the sector. Ndlovu pointed out that teachers' salaries continue to remain low, contributing to deteriorating employer-employee relations. She argued that without adequate investment in education and improved working conditions for teachers, the country's education goals-particularly those set for 2030-are at risk.
"We urge Treasury to disburse Beam funds timely and allow schools to meet operational costs. The calls for greater investment in education are not misplaced," Ndlovu said. "A fundamental shift in financing education is necessary, otherwise Zimbabwe's education system will not meet the demands of a changing curriculum or address the critical shortage of teachers."
The call for increased funding in the education sector is more urgent than ever, as Zimbabwe struggles to cope with a variety of financial and logistical challenges that threaten the quality of education and the future of its young learners. Without adequate resources, the sector's ability to meet both immediate and long-term goals will continue to be severely compromised.
During a session with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Moses Mhike, the ministry's permanent secretary, disclosed that the ministry owes substantial amounts, including a debt of US$51 million to the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec). When converted at the prevailing exchange rate of US$1:ZiG36, the debt amounts to ZiG1.8 billion, exacerbating the ministry's financial woes.
Mhike admitted that the ministry's allocated budget, which stands at ZiG46.64 billion for the 2025 fiscal year, is far from sufficient to meet the sector's pressing needs. He warned that the financial constraints were threatening the smooth operation of the sector, affecting everything from exam administration to teacher welfare. The education sector, encompassing both primary and secondary education, was allocated approximately 20.6% of the national budget, with the Higher and Tertiary Education Ministry receiving ZiG10.32 billion.
However, Mhike underscored that these funds are inadequate to address the range of challenges facing the education system, which include learner welfare, inadequate school feeding schemes, lack of proper sanitary ware, and insufficient support for students with special needs. He also highlighted the challenges in recruiting and retaining specialist teachers due to financial limitations.
Another major concern raised by Mhike was the ministry's inability to meet its capital expenditure needs. He cited stalled projects, including the construction of new schools, and ongoing litigations with contractors as additional burdens on the sector's resources.
The ministry's financial strain is compounded by non-payment of Basic Education Assistance Module (Beam) funds, which is a government program designed to help underprivileged children pay their school fees. Mhike explained that many students, especially in rural areas, rely heavily on the Beam program. In some remote parts of the country, over 90% of students depend on Beam for their education. However, the government's failure to disburse funds in a timely manner has put the program in jeopardy.
"If Treasury manages to timeously release the allocated funds and the associated cash support for payment runs, the ministry will stand a better chance to deliver primary and secondary education services effectively," Mhike said.
Sifiso Ndlovu, the Chief Executive of Zimbabwe Teachers' Association, echoed Mhike's concerns, adding that Beam funds have largely remained a paper allocation, with Treasury failing to clear arrears from previous years. Ndlovu stressed that the intended fiscal intervention for education financing was being undermined by delayed disbursements, and called on the government to prioritize timely payments to ensure schools could meet operational costs.
Furthermore, the poor welfare of teachers was cited as another major challenge affecting the sector. Ndlovu pointed out that teachers' salaries continue to remain low, contributing to deteriorating employer-employee relations. She argued that without adequate investment in education and improved working conditions for teachers, the country's education goals-particularly those set for 2030-are at risk.
"We urge Treasury to disburse Beam funds timely and allow schools to meet operational costs. The calls for greater investment in education are not misplaced," Ndlovu said. "A fundamental shift in financing education is necessary, otherwise Zimbabwe's education system will not meet the demands of a changing curriculum or address the critical shortage of teachers."
The call for increased funding in the education sector is more urgent than ever, as Zimbabwe struggles to cope with a variety of financial and logistical challenges that threaten the quality of education and the future of its young learners. Without adequate resources, the sector's ability to meet both immediate and long-term goals will continue to be severely compromised.
Source - newsday
