Five Months On: WLSA Reflects on the Impact of ZimbabweΓÇÖs Education Regulations (SI 13 of 2025)

In 2024 alone, approximately 3,433 girls dropped out of school in Zimbabwe, according to Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Angeline Gata, speaking during a Parliamentary Question and Answer session. This alarming figure highlights the persistent barriers that continue to undermine girls’ right to education. On February 14, 2025, the  Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education responded by gazetting Statutory Instrument 13 of 2025 under the Education Act [Chapter 25:04], introducing sweeping regulations aimed at safeguarding learners' rights. Five months later, Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) reflects on the significance of these reforms, especially Section 12, which allows pregnant learners to remain in school during and after pregnancy. These Regulations continue to shape conversations around inclusive education, equal access, and safeguarding, and remain central to WLSA’s advocacy in 2025. Below is a recap of the most notable provisions : Equal opportunity to education (section 4) The section provides that it is compulsory for every child of school-going age (from 4 years old) to be afforded equal opportunity to access education. If parents of the pupil cannot afford tuition fees and levies at a Government school, the provision states that the State shall assist, within the resources available to it. Admission into Government schools (section 5) No school shall exclude a child of school-going age from enrollment on the grounds that they have no birth certificate No school shall exclude a child from enrollment based on the quality of results he/she possesses. Any school head who contravenes this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 6 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months or to both such fine and imprisonment. Pupils with disabilities (section 6) Definition includes a pupil who is intellectually, mentally, physically, visually, or has impaired hearing; or has multiple disabilities; or with albinism; or has speech impairment; or sensory impairment; or developmental impairment; or epilepsy. Every school head shall ensure there is support from teachers and staff to every child with disability The school head shall ensure that the staff is well-versed, qualified, and capacitated to handle pupils with disabilities. Home-grown school feeding program (section 8) Every school head shall ensure that there is a committee for the school feeding program. The committee shall ensure that every pupil is fed with at least one hot, balanced meal per day. Medical vetting of food handlers shall be conducted by the Minister of Health and Child Care Sexual misconduct against pupils and among pupils (section 9) The head shall be the responsible authority who will immediately report to the police, inform parents of the child, and institute disciplinary proceedings against a sexual perpetrator. The incidents must be recorded. Sexual offenders shall not be employed full-time or part-time at any school. It is an offence to employ a convicted sexual offender or a person dismissed from employment due to sexual misconduct. Pregnancy of girl pupils The school head must inform parents if a child becomes pregnant. The head must facilitate psycho-social support services to a pregnant girl and her parents. If a girl and her parents so wish, she shall be permitted to remain at school before delivery and after, depending on her health. Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA) applauds the Ministry for introducing this forward-thinking regulation, which aligns with regional and international human rights instruments to which Zimbabwe is a signatory. By safeguarding the rights of girls, promoting gender equality, and advancing access to quality education, the Education Regulations represent a critical step toward inclusive education.