On this year’s International Day of Education, themed AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation and as we follow up on the children’s Call-for-Action for an inclusive, quality, and relevant education, we are reminded of the unparalleled power of education to shape the future of our communities and nations.
As technological advancements accelerate and artificial intelligence (AI) permeates every sector, education must rise to the challenge of preparing learners to navigate, shape, and harness these tools while safeguarding human dignity, creativity, and agency.
The global discourse on AI has already begun influencing how we work, think, and live. In Zimbabwe, technology offers immense potential to enhance education, from virtual classrooms to adaptive learning platforms.
However, with these opportunities come challenges. To ensure no child is left behind in this new era, education systems must be inclusive, equitable, and responsive, integrating both the promises and ethical considerations of AI-driven innovation.
Access to quality education for all
First and foremost, access illustrates the strength of the education system. Despite Zimbabwe’s commendable progress in achieving a high primary school enrollment rate — with nine out of ten children of primary school age in school — barriers remain.
Poverty, disabilities, and geographic isolation disproportionately affect children’s ability to access and complete their education. Only 10% of children with disabilities are estimated to be enrolled in school, and half of the country’s adolescents are not attending secondary school.
Unicef calls for reinforced public investment in education to reach the globally agreed 20% of government expenditure.
Achieving this goal would reduce the financial burden on families, prevent drop-outs, and create safer, more inclusive learning environments equipped for 21st-century challenges.
Unicef also supports expanding early childhood education and foundational literacy initiatives to ensure every child begins their learning journey on solid ground.
Inclusive education: Leaving no one behind
Inclusive education is not only a right but a necessity for sustainable development. It allows children with disabilities, girls at risk of dropping out, and those in rural or marginalised areas to learn alongside their peers.
Quality education means more than access — it demands appropriate teaching materials, disability-friendly infrastructure, and well-trained educators capable of fostering critical thinking and creativity.
Governments must integrate inclusive policies, build accessible schools closer to communities, and provide adequate resources such as solar power for uninterrupted learning.
Equally important is strengthening the role of parents, guardians, and communities in supporting inclusive education systems and ensuring local ownership of policies and practices that benefit all children.
Education for the digital age
Education must embrace digital literacy and climate change awareness to ensure relevance in a rapidly evolving world. The curriculum must equip students with the skills to navigate AI technologies responsibly.
Initiatives such as the Learning Passport and Giga, which aim to connect every school in Zimbabwe to the Internet by 2030, represent promising steps toward a tech-empowered future.
In 2021, the Primary and Secondary Education ministry launched the Learning Passport. Originally designed to educate displaced and refugee children through a digital remote learning platform, the Learning Passport — a collaboration between Unicef and Microsoft — has expanded to more countries, offering country-level curricula for children and youth.
Its launch in Zimbabwe is crucial when over 4.6 million learners have experienced prolonged school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of innovative solutions to ensure continuity in education.
However, these efforts must be expanded. Every classroom should have access to ICT tools, and teachers must receive the training necessary to guide students through digital environments with a balance of caution and curiosity.
Equally, climate change education must be a core element of curricula, enabling children to lead sustainable lives and protect the planet.
Child participation: A pledge to action
During the 2024 Regional World Children’s Day commemorations, children from seven southern African countries presented a resounding Call-for-Action. They demanded quality education that is inclusive, impactful, and future-ready.
More than 80% expressed willingness to shape education systems, but nearly half highlighted cost and inclusivity as barriers to success. These voices must guide policy.
Children have committed to being agents of change, advocating for libraries, recreational facilities, and collaborative classrooms that nurture mutual respect and shared growth. They have pledged to embrace diversity, engage in climate activism, and use technology responsibly.
Youth advocate Denise Mudau added her voice, saying that 2024 was a call for action; may 2025 be the year of action.
In Zimbabwe, half of the 7,1 million children live in extreme poverty. While 154 schools were solarised in 2024 through Unicef-government collaboration, much more is needed.
We urge our leaders to ensure quality, inclusive education for all children, regardless of background or circumstance.
We commend the government’s Education 5.0 initiative, which promotes practical skills through innovation, research, and community service. However, poverty continues to exclude many, especially in rural areas. An inclusive, well-funded system is essential to give every child an equal chance to thrive.
Children with disabilities — 10% of Zimbabwe’s youth as of 2022 — remain particularly vulnerable. We call for inclusive schools that embrace every child and provide accessible facilities, trained educators, and specialised learning materials.
Natural disasters like Cyclone Idai (2019) and Cyclone Eloise (2021) have devastated communities. Yet, disaster preparedness remains absent from our education.
One child from Chimanimani said: “When the cyclone hit, we didn’t know where to go or what to do.”
Climate change, disasters, and food security are pressing threats. We must learn survival skills, disaster preparedness, and ways to safeguard food security in the face of droughts and El Niño.
On World Children’s Day, we embraced the theme Educate the African Child for Posterity.
We urge the Zimbabwean government, Unicef, and partners to turn commitments into action. Education must prepare us not only for today but also for tomorrow’s challenges.
Inclusive education for all children — girls, boys, rural, urban, disabled, or out of school — is key to a sustainable and prosperous Zimbabwe.
May 2025 be the year of real action, building a brighter future for all Zimbabwean children.
A shared responsibility for the future
As we reflect on this year’s theme, let us remember that human agency must remain at the heart of all technological progress.
Education is the most powerful tool to preserve and enhance our humanity in the face of automation. It is not merely about learning to use AI — it is about shaping a generation that understands, questions, and ultimately controls the future of technology for the greater good.
Unicef stands ready to work with the government of Zimbabwe, partners, and communities to create a more inclusive, equitable, and forward-thinking education system that leaves no child behind. Together, let us ensure that education continues to empower, inspire, and elevate human potential in an increasingly automated world.
*Etona Ekole is the Unicef representative for Zimbabwe while Denise Mudau is a youth advocate.