ARTUZ Urges Action After Govt Backs School Equalisation Fund

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) applauded the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for publicly supporting the proposed Education Equalisation Fund, a move the union describes as a long-overdue step toward addressing deep-rooted inequalities in the country’s education system.

According to the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe statement children often learn in overcrowded and crumbling classrooms, lacking basic teaching tools, textbooks, and access to safe sanitation facilities. ARTUZ argues that years of chronic underfunding have denied these students their constitutional right to quality basic education.

“We are therefore pleased that the Ministry’s spokesperson has acknowledged the proposal for a mineral levy to fund school development as a viable and necessary path forward. This is a clear validation of ARTUZ’s long-standing demand for an equitable education financing framework that leaves no child or teacher behind,” said the ARTUZ statement.

The union has long campaigned against the harsh conditions many rural learners endure ranging from decaying infrastructure and inadequate resources to poorly equipped classrooms. ARTUZ says these challenges have resulted in unequal access to education, both in learning conditions and future opportunities.

“However, as we celebrate this policy convergence”, ARTUZ emphasizes that the implementation model of the fund must be transparent, inclusive, and accountable. It must not be reduced to political rhetoric or elite capture.

Recently, a Ministry spokesperson announced that the government is considering introducing a mineral levy to generate funding for this initiative an idea ARTUZ has advocated for years. The union considers the proposal both practical and essential to reversing the neglect of rural education.

However, ARTUZ cautions that verbal commitments must be matched by action. The union insists that the Equalisation Fund must be implemented with full transparency and accountability, with robust systems in place to prevent misuse and ensure that resources reach the intended beneficiaries.

ARTUZ warns that the fund must avoid the pitfalls of centralised control and elite capture, which could see wealthier or urban regions benefiting disproportionately. Instead, decision-making must include rural voices and reflect their needs on the ground.

To support this, the union is preparing a comprehensive proposal detailing how the fund should be structured and managed. This includes practical recommendations on revenue generation such as the mineral levy and oversight mechanisms to monitor spending, prevent corruption, and ensure direct support to under-resourced schools.

This development comes amid ongoing crises in Zimbabwe’s education sector. ARTUZ has released data indicating that poverty remains a major barrier to access, with many children dropping out due to unaffordable fees, a lack of learning materials, and crumbling infrastructure.

Government initiatives like the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), intended to support vulnerable learners, often suffer from delays and insufficient funding leaving many children without support.

“The key test will be whether policy translates into real-world change. Will legislation be enacted to establish the Equalisation Fund, will the mineral levy be properly implemented and funds fairly distributed, will independent oversight ensure improvements actually reach the rural classrooms most in need,” the ARTUZ added.

For ARTUZ, the message is simple education is a right, not a privilege. Every learner deserves a safe environment and every teacher the resources to teach effectively. While the Ministry’s endorsement marks potential progress, only tangible improvements in rural schools will show whether the government’s promises are genuine.