Zimbabwean Students Outperform Alarmist Reports

National data from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education challenge a recent international report claiming only one in six Zimbabwean children complete primary school with basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Instead, Zimbabwe’s own Zimbabwe Early Learning Assessment (ZELA) shows significant progress under the Second Republic.

ZELA data from 2015 to 2024 reveals that by Grade 2, nearly three in four children are proficient in mathematics and English, with 2024 figures showing 72.45% in mathematics and 74.94% in English.

A primary school learner focuses on classwork, reflecting the growing proficiency in literacy and numeracy across Zimbabwean schools.

Pass rates for Grade 7 national exams have steadily increased, reaching 50.23% in 2024.

“The claim that only 16.7% of children are proficient is misleading,” said Taungana Ndoro, Director of Communications and Advocacy at the Ministry.

“In reality, about one in two children now complete primary school successfully, and this number continues to improve.”

Key initiatives driving these gains include gender equity programs that see girls consistently outperform boys, a government-funded school feeding program improving attendance and focus, and resilience strategies that helped schools recover after the COVID-19 pandemic.

While acknowledging ongoing challenges like dropout rates and material shortages, the Ministry emphasised its commitment to continuous improvement, including expanding ZELA to upper grades and using data-driven interventions.

“Zimbabwe’s education system is on a positive trajectory,” Ndoro said.

“The foundation we are building today ensures a brighter future for every child.”