Zimbabwe aims to re-enroll 40,000 students who left school in 2025

The Zimbabwean government has launched an initiative to find and bring back thousands of students who left school in 2025, as reported by the Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) report. The report indicates that 39,736 students dropped out, with 13,032 at the primary level and 26,704 at the secondary level. Factors contributing to the dropouts include poverty, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and child labor. The ministry has identified 116 primary students who left due to marriage and 102 due to pregnancy. Additionally, 138 students with disabilities also left, with nearly equal numbers of boys and girls. The ministry is addressing the issue through a multi-faceted approach, including an Early Warning System, improved re-entry policies, and community engagement. The system tracks students at risk by monitoring absenteeism and academic performance. Once identified, school teams conduct home visits to support families and create plans to help students return. Government programs like the Basic Education Assistance Module and School Feeding Programme are also being expanded. Counseling services are being strengthened to address issues like child marriage and gender-based violence. The Re-Entry Policy ensures that pregnant students can return to school after giving birth. The ministry is also improving inclusive education for students with disabilities and building satellite schools to reduce travel distances in remote areas.

Addressing school dropouts is critical for improving education access and long-term national development.