By Irene Kalulu
In a move towards promoting gender equality and inclusive development, Zibagwe Rural District Council (ZRDC) is aligning with the principles of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) by building a secondary school in Bvumira so as to boost girls’ education in the community.
ZRDC Vice Chairperson, Idirashe Dongo, explained that the decision to build Bvumira Secondary School in Ward 30, Redcliff Constituency, was prompted by the challenges faced by girls in rural areas. “The school kids have been subjected to a lot of child marriages and child labor after finishing grade 7. The nearest secondary school is in Chiundura, more than 15 km away, where they had to walk every day. We thought it prudent to build a secondary school closer to the community so that our young girls can safely continue with their education.”
Construction of the school has already begun, with parents donating 120,000 bricks and the council committing to provide all other necessary inputs. Dongo emphasised the importance of community engagement and participation in the project. “By investing in schools and educational infrastructure, the council can reduce the distance girls have to travel, creating a safer and more conducive learning environment. Additionally, the council’s commitment to community engagement and participation will ensure that the needs and concerns of local stakeholders are taken into account. Parents have already committed to bricks,” Dongo said.
The importance of girls’ education is recognised as a fundamental human right, enshrined in various international and regional laws. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) emphasises the need for inclusive and equitable quality education, while the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) calls for equal access to education for women and girls.
Despite these written documents, girls’ education in rural and marginalised areas remains a challenge. One of the significant obstacles is the long distance young girls have to walk to reach school, often exposing them to risks and vulnerabilities.
Locadia Mavhudzi, a Gender Champion and Human Rights Advocate, highlighted the need for increased access to education. “There’s need for an increased number of schools in an era where we are saying leave no one behind. The moment we have inequalities in terms of access to education, then we leave the girls out. There’s also need to resource those schools in terms of books and other needed materials.”
The long-term benefits of investing in girls’ education are numerous. Educated girls are more likely to secure better-paying jobs, contribute to the economy, and make informed decisions about their health, well-being, and families. Moreover, educated girls are more likely to break the cycle of poverty, challenge harmful cultural practices, and become agents of change in their communities.
Parents of children who attend Bvumira Primary School have expressed excitement at this positive development. “It was worrying for our girls to travel 15km to the nearest school. These days, there are a lot of traps for our young girls. They fall prey to gold miners or makorokoza who lure them with money,” said Tinotenda Dube.
While ZRDC’s initiative is a significant step forward, there are potential challenges and opportunities for improvement. Sustainability and funding are critical concerns, as the council will need to ensure that the budget allocation is sufficient to meet the educational needs of girls and women in the community. Additionally, there is need to address cultural and social barriers that hinder girls’ education, such as early marriage, child labor and gender-based violence.
Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe Gweru Chapter Chairperson Merjury Makunere said infrastructural development is critical in ensuring girls remain in school. “The more schools being built, the more girls will be educated. We need to also make sure they have access to books, ICT material as well as proper sanitation facilities,” she said.
By investing in girls’ education, ZRDC is investing in the future of its community, promoting gender equality and empowering girls and women to become agents of change.
