The Roger Federer Foundation partners with edt to scale up foundational learning initiative in Zimbabwe

The SRI programme aims to provide vulnerable children in Zimbabwe with a good start in primary education through quality early childhood development (ECD) in 1,500 primary schools and early learning institutions. The programme was originally intended to run until the end of 2025. However, although ECD is fully integrated into Zimbabwe’s primary schools, starting at four years old, it became clear during implementation that many children aged four to five were attending community ECD centres instead due to long journeys to their nearest primary school. MoPSE and its implementing partners therefore decided to extend the reach of the SRI to include these community ECD centres, building on the existing reach of 1,100 primary schools across the country. As a result, we have partnered with MoPSE and the Roger Federer Foundation to implement the first phase of this endeavour, up until May 2028. 

The pilot will directly reach 50 existing SRI schools and at least 100 community ECD centres, and will cascade the key SRI package of resources for ECD teachers – the ‘Early Learning Kiosk’ – loaded into an Android tablet or phone. One of the most important digital tools in the resource package for teachers is the Smart Tablet for Early Learning Assessment (STELA), an application designed to assess key development milestones aged three to six. STELA has been adopted as the official continuous assessment tool for ECE in Zimbabwe. Olica Kaira, Primary, Secondary and Non-Formal Education Chief Director at MoPSE, emphasised the Zimbabwe government’s commitment to this initiative.

“The STELA programme is designed to assist teachers to track and monitor pupils' readiness milestones in ECE classes. In its design and focus on school readiness and technology-based format, the tool is consistent with the aspirations of the Government of Zimbabwe to improve the quality of formal learning experience and modernisation in primary schools and innovation thrust in the Heritage-Based education.”

Olica Kaira, Primary, Secondary and Non-Formal Education Chief Director, MoPSE

We will support MoPSE to deliver a capacity-building package following the ‘mother-school’ model, enabling primary schools to support community-based ECE centres, with approximately two ECE centres under each primary school. We will provide mentoring support for pre-service and in-service teachers and community-focused ECD centre staff, and will also support efforts by MoPSE to build the capacity of school inspectors and master trainers. 

"After over a decade of investing in foundational learning in partnership with the Zimbabwe government, the Roger Federer Foundation's School Readiness Initiative is poised for nationwide scale-up in all schools. Edt is thrilled to be part of this transformative journey. This partnership enables edt to expand its technical support to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, enhancing foundational learning efforts in Zimbabwe while contributing to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4.2. This goal focuses on ensuring all children have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education, preparing them for success in primary education." 

Faith Nkala, Zimbabwe Country Director, edt

We are delighted to have been chosen to implement the SRI after demonstrating our capability on the UK-funded TEACH programme. The Roger Federer Foundation and MoPSE recognised our ability to blend innovation with sustainability to deliver scalable results, as well as our reputation for fostering collaborative relationships, our transparent approach to planning, and our financial accountability. We are looking forward to implementing this programme alongside our SRI partners, including the Child Protection Society, the Municipality Development Partnership, the Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors (ZINECDA), and the University of Zimbabwe, alongside the 14 teacher training colleges that fall under the university’s management. 

“Edt is the right partner for us as we consolidate all the gains made in the SRI between 2019 and 2025. Through their impressive work in the TEACH programme, they have demonstrated that they are well placed to guarantee the SRI partnership that the gains made in the last six years of the initiative are scaled up to benefit all early learners in Zimbabwe, and that they are sustainable. At the Foundation, we are excited about the partnership and look forward to seeing its impact after 2028.”  

Fortune Thembo, Regional Representative, Roger Federer Foundation

Our delivery of this programme reflects our commitment to removing barriers so every learner can access quality education, beginning in early childhood. As this phase of the programme commences, we look forward to seeing the impact we will be able to make in further strengthening foundational learning and ECE in Zimbabwe.