Takunda Primary School in Mutare in the Zimababwean province of
Manicaland, will officially open its new refurbished classrooms
today, 12 June, and welcome children back to school. This is just
one of more than 30 primary schools and Early Childhood Development
(ECD) centres that have been assisted with emergency educational
needs by IOM and partners benefitting more than 19,000 students.

Since April 2008 and in partnership with Save the Children
Alliance, UNICEF and provincial and district education authorities,
IOM has assisted 33 primary schools and ECD centres in six
provinces with emergency education assistance.

With funding from the UN's Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF),
the programme aims to restore displaced children's access to
education by not only refurbishing the schools and their water and
sanitation facilities, but also by providing textbooks, stationary,
recreational materials. There is also training for essential life
skills.

Although the re-opening of the Takunda Primary School and that
of the other 32 schools and centres marks a positive step in
reducing the vulnerability of children affected by displacement in
Zimbabwe, there are still many hurdles to be overcome in the
education sector. These include a chronic lack of teachers,
teaching and learning materials, high teacher-student ratios and a
lack of adequate infrastructure. According to UNICEF, 35% of
teaching posts in primary schools and 33% of teaching posts in
secondary schools in Zimbabwe are currently vacant. Nearly 70% of
administration posts in the education sector are similarly
unfilled.

Although it is unclear how many vulnerable children are unable
to attend school in Zimbabwe, UNICEF figures reveal that there are
more than 850,000 orphans and vulnerable children attending primary
and secondary schools in Zimbabwe in 2009.

"Through such initiatives and partnerships many more vulnerable
children will be able to receive their right to education," said
Mr. Marcelo Pisani, IOM Chief of Mission.

For additional information please contact:

Erin Foster

IOM Zimbabwe

Tel: 011885266

Email: "mailto:efoster@iom.int" target="" title="">efoster@iom.int