School Readiness Initiative
Giving vulnerable children in Zimbabwe a strong start in education
What is the School Readiness Initiative?
The School Readiness Initiative (SRI) is a national programme helping children across Zimbabwe develop the skills they need to thrive when they start school. It supports quality early childhood education in 1,500 primary schools and early childhood education (ECE) centres across the country.
The programme is led by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), funded by the Federer Foundation, and delivered in partnership with EDT, the Child Protection Society, the Municipality Development Partnership, the Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors (ZINECDA), and the University of Zimbabwe.
What does the School Readiness Initiative aim to achieve?
The SRI aims to improve children’s readiness for school by strengthening the quality of early childhood education. It does this by equipping educators with practical tools and training, improving learning environments, strengthening community engagement, and building the capacity of education professionals across Zimbabwe. The programme also supports age-appropriate learning and development, helping ensure that children arrive in Grade 1 ready to learn and succeed.
“In its design and focus on school readiness and technology-based format, the STELA tool is consistent with the aspirations of the Government of Zimbabwe to improve the quality of the formal learning experience and modernisation in primary schools.”
Olica Kaira, Primary, Secondary and Non-Formal Education Chief Director, MoPSE
Smart Tablet Early Learning Assessment (STELA)
The SRI is cascading a key package of resources, the ‘Early Learning Kiosk’, to ECE teachers. One of the most important tools in this package is the Smart Tablet Early Learning Assessment (STELA). STELA is an application designed to assess key development milestones in children aged three to six, and has been adopted as the official continuous assessment tool for ECE in Zimbabwe.
EDT’s role on the School Readiness Initiative
We support MoPSE to deliver a capacity-building package following the ‘mother-school’ model, enabling primary schools to support community-based ECE centres. We also provide mentoring support for pre-service and in-service teachers and community-focused ECE centre staff, and support MoPSE to build the capacity of school inspectors and master trainers.
“It is important to acknowledge EDT’s continued contribution to strengthening Zimbabwe’s education system.”
Rugare Ncube, Chief Operating Officer, Federer Foundation
Driving significant change in Zimbabwe’s early learning sector
“The programme has shown how government systems, schools, and communities can work together to strengthen foundational learning.”
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education official
“STELA has transformed how teachers monitor and support child development in classrooms.”
District Education Official
“Children are now arriving in Grade 1 more confident, independent, and ready to learn.”
Grade 1 teacher
71%
71% of children were ready to transition into Grade 1 after participating in the SRI, compared to 18% at the start of the programme.
65%
Classroom learning environments improved from 26% meeting minimum standards at the start of the programme to 65% at evaluation stage.
94%
Community engagement has increased significantly, with 94% of parent-child dialogue meeting minimum standards at evaluation stage, compared to 74% at the start of the programme.
Frequently asked questions
What challenges is the School Readiness Initiative addressing?
The SRI is tackling systemic challenges in Zimbabwe’s early childhood education sector, including:
- limited qualified teachers and low pay
- poor quality of facilities and inadequate learning materials
- high dropout and repetition rates in early grades
- socioeconomic barriers, including poverty and long distances to schools.
By addressing these challenges, the SRI is ensuring that children are developmentally ready for primary school, while also preparing schools to effectively support incoming learners.
How does the School Readiness Initiative align with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s strategy?
The SRI is itself led by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, with funding from the Federer Foundation. The STELA tool is consistent with the Zimbabwe government’s aspirations to improve the quality of the formal learning experience and modernisation in primary schools. The government is also committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.2, which the SRI contributes to by ensuring that all children have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education.
Let’s work together
Interested in partnering with us on this programme or in similar work?
Contact Faith Nkala, Director Sub-Saharan Africa
Faith is a results-driven leader in international education and development with more than 20 years of experience in designing and implementing effective development strategies across diverse African contexts. She has a strong track record of collaborating with governments, INGOs, and funding bodies.