The Financing and Provision of Education in Zimbabwe: towards greater equality?

Abstract

The remarkable educational expansion achieved by most African governments since the 1961 Addis Ababa Conference requires a substantial increase in the flow of resources to continue. It is also needed to improve the quality of education and to maintain the momentum for further educational expansion that has been created by current demographic trends. However, budgetary constraints imposed by sluggish economic recovery indicate that government resources for education are not going to increase substantially and that alternative sources should be explored. To this end, this article reviews recent developments in education in Zimbabwe since independence eight years ago, discusses their implications for the funding of education, critically analyses current government funding policies and practices, and examines their implications on government attempts to equalise educational opportunity. The author argues that while the government has made significant progress in encouraging and stimulating community support f...