Resilient Education in the Face of Climate-Related Disasters

The Government of Zimbabwe is finalizing the National Education in Emergencies Policy to ensure children affected by disasters have access to inclusive education in safe environments. This policy comes amidst revelations that 120 schools across the country were damaged by floods, resulting in children drowning while trying to cross flooded rivers to attend school. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is taking bold measures to guarantee that no child's education is disrupted by climate-related disasters.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 120 schools across the country were damaged by floods during the 2024/25 rainy season, displacing thousands of learners.
• Deputy Minister Angeline Gata revealed that the Ministry plans to construct flood-resistant schools in high-risk districts of Buhera, Mutasa, Chipinge, and Chimanimani by 2026.
• The Ministry is scaling up the e-Learning Zimbabwe programme to ensure the continuity of lessons delivery during emergencies, with solar-powered digital learning tools to be rolled out to off-grid areas.
• Teachers are being trained in psychosocial support, disaster preparedness, and adaptive teaching methods to build a more robust education system.
• The Ministry has launched a National School Safety Volunteers Programme to train communities to protect their schools through early-warning systems and rapid-response networks.
• Local authorities are urged to enforce land-use regulations and avoid construction of schools in high-risk floodplains.
• Development partners are called upon to align their interventions with national priorities, including the soon-to-be-launched Education in Emergencies Fund.

Statistics:

• 120 schools were damaged by floods across the country during the 2024/25 rainy season.
• 3 children tragically lost their lives in Buhera District while attempting to cross flooded rivers to attend school.
• In 6 provinces affected by drought, learners, especially girls, are forced to walk over 10 kilometres daily in search of water, contributing to rising cases of school dropouts.
• Teachers are being trained in psychosocial support, disaster preparedness, and adaptive teaching methods to build a more robust education system.

Sources:

• "The 2024/25 rainy season wreaked havoc on our education sector, with over 120 schools damaged by floods nationwide, including in Manicaland. This displaced thousands of learners." - Deputy Minister Angeline Gata
• "By 2026, new construction standards will include climate resilience as a core requirement." - Deputy Minister Angeline Gata
• The Global Partnership for Education, UNICEF, and the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) are mentioned as partners supporting the implementation of the policy.