Staff Reporter
Rising school dropouts among adolescent girls and young women in Kwekwe District are threatening the continuation of a donor-funded education subsidies programme, a development official has said.
Plan International programme facilitator Pride Muromo told participants at a one-day Zibagwe Rural District Council Voluntary Local Review Workshop that the Global Fund-supported initiative could be withdrawn if dropout rates are not reduced.
Muromo said the programme, implemented under the DREAMS Modified Project, targets 2,772 girls aged between 15 and 19 across 50 secondary schools in the district. It provides school fees, examination fees, uniforms and stationery as part of efforts to keep girls in school and reduce their vulnerability to HIV.
However, he said early indications for the first school term of 2026 show a worrying trend.
“As of now, we have already recorded 57 who dropped out during Term One 2026, and we are still compiling the statistics,” Muromo said. “This is a worrisome issue and the number is likely to increase.”
He warned that the trend has raised concerns among funders over the effectiveness of the programme.
“The Global Fund has indicated that they are worried about value for money with regards to the implementation of this grant. Beyond December 2026, the picture is not looking very good for the education subsidies package,” he said, adding that there is a possibility the school fees support programme may be discontinued.
The education subsidies initiative is designed to improve school retention and ensure that beneficiaries complete their Ordinary Level education.
Muromo said continued dropouts undermine this objective, particularly when learners leave school before sitting for final examinations.
“If a learner drops out after years of support and fails to sit for examinations, it means the investment made in their education does not yield the intended results,” he said.
Muromo identified artisanal mining as a major driver of school dropouts in the district.
He said some boys leave school to engage in illegal mining activities and later return with money to marry schoolgirls, contributing to increased dropout rates among girls.
“In some cases, boys who have gone into artisanal mining come back and marry girls who are still in school. We are encountering situations where young couples return to the school environment,” he said.
He added that early pregnancies and economic challenges also contribute to girls failing to complete their education.
Muromo said stakeholders, including schools, parents and community leaders, are being engaged to address the issue and encourage learners to remain in school.
Efforts include awareness campaigns on the importance of education and the long-term impact of dropping out, as well as collaboration with organisations working in communities to reduce early marriages and risky behaviours.
He urged collective action at district level to safeguard the programme.
“It is upon us as a district to reduce the dropouts so that we can justify that the education subsidies are being properly utilised,” Muromo said.
