Bulawayo tops Zimbabwe education rankings

Bulawayo has emerged as the most educated province in Zimbabwe, according to findings from the 2023–2024 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS), which also underscores a significant gap in educational access between urban and rural areas.

The survey, conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) at the request of the Ministry of Health and Child Care, is the seventh edition of the ZDHS since its inception in 1988. Data collection took place between December 4, 2023, and May 29, 2024, with ethical clearance granted by the ICF Institutional Review Board and the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ).

A total of 9,666 women aged 15–49 and 4,185 men aged 15–54 were interviewed across all provinces, producing a nationally representative snapshot of education, health, and media access trends.

The report shows that urban Zimbabweans are significantly more likely to attain higher education levels. Nationally, 91 percent of urban women and 92 percent of urban men have attended secondary school or higher, compared to 68 percent of rural women and 70 percent of rural men.

"Literacy by province did not vary much for both women and men. It was lowest in Mashonaland Central (86 percent for women and 84 percent for men) and highest in Bulawayo (99 percent for women and more than 99 percent for men)," the report stated.

Bulawayo and Harare - Zimbabwe's two most urbanised provinces - led in educational attainment, with over 90 percent of residents having attended secondary school or higher. These provinces also recorded the lowest proportions of adults whose highest level of education is primary school - just 8 percent of women and 5 percent of men in Bulawayo, and 9 percent of women and 5 percent of men in Harare.

The ZDHS also investigated mass media exposure and internet use as key indicators of information access - vital for health education and civic awareness. It found that 35 percent of women and 52 percent of men listen to the radio at least once a week, while 45 percent of women and 36 percent of men do not regularly access any mass media.

Internet use is growing but still uneven. Over half of respondents - 54 percent of women and 55 percent of men aged 15–49 - reported having used the internet. Of these, 60 percent said they accessed it nearly every day in the past month.

The survey noted that both media exposure and internet use are strongly linked to education and economic status. For instance, 72 percent of women with no formal education reported no exposure to any mass media, compared to only 16 percent among women with more than secondary education. In wealthier households, 82 percent of women reported watching television weekly, compared to just 2 percent in the lowest income bracket.

ZDHS data remains a cornerstone for evidence-based health and development planning in Zimbabwe. Conducted roughly every five years, it provides comprehensive insights into population trends, health conditions, education, and service accessibility.

The latest findings are expected to guide government policies and programming in critical areas such as maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS prevention, education, and gender equality.