Education Cluster Humanitarian Response & COVID-19 Sitrep: 14 May 2020

Cluster focal points Sibangani Shumba, Cluster Coordinator, [email protected] Dominic Muntanga, Cluster Co-coordinator, [email protected] Isaac Macha, Information Management Specialist, [email protected]

Reporting period 01 – 14, May 2020

Report number #3

Key figures

• 853,032 learners (ECD to Grade 7, ages 3 to 12) targeted under the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) through Education in Emergency support across 33 districts with severe needs. • 3.5 Million learners are currently affected and targeted under the COVID-19 pandemic. The cluster is targeting to reach them with various activities to address their needs. • 47,368 learners have been reached with HRP related activities with 18,459 learners being reached with COVID-19 related activities as of April 2020. • The cluster is appealing for US$52.5 million: US$ 41 Million through the Humanitarian Response Plan 2020 and US$11.5 Million through the newly launched COVID-19 Addendum. • 20 operational partners with activities planned, ongoing or completed.

Humanitarian needs

• Zimbabwe’s education system was already stretched before the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of multiple crises, including the impact of Cyclone Idai last year, the economic crisis coupled with hyperinflation and the ongoing drought. The combined effect of the humanitarian crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have far-reaching implications for the protection and wellbeing of children as well as their readiness for school, attendance and participation in learning.

• Before the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, estimates by the Education Cluster were that of the more than 3.4 million children of school going age (3 to 12 years), at least 1.2 million (35 per cent), would need emergency and specialized education services in 2020. This includes more than 853,000 children in acute need, such as: children not enrolled in school; orphans and other vulnerable children (OCV), including children with disabilities and children living with HIV; and those in need of school feeding

• While Zimbabwe closed schools to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to protect school populations, prolonged closures represent major risks for children, teachers and school communities. Without a well-resourced response, the COVID-19 epidemic will exacerbate existing vulnerabilities among children, with lasting negative impact on children’s’ education and learning outcomes. Without a conducive and disease-free school environment, COVID-19 poses a risk to children’s health and wellbeing. The cluster is targeting 3.5 million learners in early childhood education, primary level and secondary level through prioritization of activities.

Zimbabwe Education Cluster (Save the Children & UNICEF) https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/zimbabwe/education

Education Cluster Situation Report | 2

Humanitarian response

• As of end of April 2020, a total of 47,368 people have benefited from various activities implemented by the cluster through the Humanitarian Response Planning 2020. Activities include; psychosocial support to learners (15,458), psychosocial support to teachers (1,500), distribution of school kits (1,500), school feeding (3,291) construction/rehabilitation of latrines (6,215), hygiene packs/dignity kits (1,500), school feeding (3,291), community mobilization (1,878), teacher training on psychosocial support and disaster risk reduction to teachers (1,689), rehabilitation and construction of classrooms (300) and school fees interventions (20,037).

• A total of 18,459 people have been reached with COVID-19 related activities which include distribution of key messages through Radio, SMS/Text messaging and distribution of Information, Education and Communication print materials.

• UNICEF is in the process of delivering 1,000 sets of story books to satellite schools. The books, which are expected to be available in communities by next week, will allow children to read and learn during school closure. The books will be accompanied by a guide for parents to support their children to study. An additional 180,000 story books are currently being printed and will be distributed starting May 31. UNICEF is finalizing discussions to upload learning materials on the Internet of Good Things (IoGT) platform. This will enable children to initially access 39 story books on any mobile phone for free through the platform, which is expected to go online next week. UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) to develop the radio education programme as part of the national education response to COVID-19. More than 50 radio lessons have been developed to date and are undergoing quality assurance before broadcasting. Additionally, UNICEF is planning to support teachers through Educators Support Network which is planned to be launched through webinars for provincial and district officers on education in the context of COVID-19 on May 29.

• Save the Children has completed the training of 200 teacher community facilitators in and Epworth on COVID-19 awareness, distant education support for children and PSS in homes. A mobile public address COVID-19 awareness outreach is also completing the teacher’s efforts in these two areas will anticipated reach of 20,000 children. Vulnerable boys and girls including those living with disabilities are getting assisted with sanitizers, buckets, soap, sanitary wear and hygiene packs. Save the Children is working alongside MOPSE, District Development Coordinators (formerly DA), Police, local councils, MOH, Department of Social Welfare and other government and other NGOs in the two districts.

• CARE is supporting completion of 2 classrooms at Boora School in Bikita with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), to be ready before schools open. The classes will support social distancing and help decongest available classrooms in the context of COVID-19. CARE procured Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits (Gloves, masks, soap) for teachers and learners in Zaka and Bikita districts. In addition, CARE is currently fixing rails in 40 disability friendly toilets in Bikita and Zaka districts to enable safe return of all learners when schools reopen.

• PLAN is rolling out targeted SMS on COVID-19 awareness and prevention to about 7,265 individuals in grassroots communities and COVID-19 awareness and prevention on children’s TV program YGT every Saturday morning from 10-11am with an anticipated reach target audience of 8 million (based on ZBC statistics). Six Public Service Announcements in Shona, Ndebele and English on COVID-19 awareness and prevention are being played daily (4 times per day) on 4 community radios (Diamond FM, SkyzMetro FM, Hevoi FM, Midlands FM) and 1 national radio station (Radio Zimbabwe). Plan is also rolling out weekly interactive radio discussions on COVID-19 awareness in partnership with MoHCC and other technical experts such as WLSA and Childline. Plan is targeting over 8 million weekly listeners. Four additional PSA’s on Child Protection, Gender Based Violence, Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and Menstrual Health Hygiene are currently being signed off by MoHCC (listen to attached examples). These are reaching out to 8,161,500 listeners weekly. In addition, Plan is capacitating young people from our Safe and Inclusive Cities Program with social media campaigns on COVID-19 awareness raising and linking them up with online influencers that include Ray Vines and trending YouTube series Wadiwa Wepamoyo (302 000 views).

Zimbabwe Education Cluster (Save the Children & UNICEF) https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/zimbabwe/education

Education Cluster Situation Report | 3 • World Vision Zimbabwe (WVZ) is supporting 122 schools in Lupane (80) and (42) districts with digital learning on an offline platform. The WhatsApp platform is currently being used to share learning material with learners by the ProFuturo coaches in partnership with schoolteachers. WV is supporting infrastructure development (ECD block rehabilitation) and providing schools with water buckets, liquid soap learners and PPE for teachers in Chimanimani, Nyanga, Mbire, Muzarabani and Nyanyadzi districts. This additionally includes disinfecting schools, setting up of reading camps, distribution of IEC materials and providing trainings to school development committees, school headmasters and selected teachers on COVID-19 awareness, prevention and mitigation measures.

• UNESCO is supporting MoPSE with steps and actions to enable the Ministry’s online education platform OER to go live and has recruited two consultants to help with the process. Additionally, they are looking at content that the MoPSE CDTS has that is already digitalized and or needs to be digitalized which is important as once the portal goes live, the portal will have the necessary content for teachers and learners.

• Higher Life Foundation is supporting learners to access Ruzivo Digital Learning (RDL) which currently has over 1.6 Million learners registered on the platform with daily usage of +9,000 learners. Currently conducting hand washing and COVID-19 Education campaign to educate communities about COVID-19 and distributed 8,807 bars of soap reaching out to 30,311 people in 11,967 households in Budiriro and Glenview suburbs in .

• CARITAS ZCBC is distributing food and disseminating education information on Coronavirus. The food hampers include hygiene kits with soap, sanitizers and sanitary pads for girls in . In Chikomba district, , Hwedza, Mrewa. , , Chivi and Gutu has a programme that is providing awareness raising and education on COVID-19 for all communities including compelling parents to monitor and support children throughout the lockdown period.

• CRS is offering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) an essential service to pathways project participants during the COVID-19. CRS is offering psycho-socio Support on school related anxiety. Through trained CBT counsellors the project is offering phone call counselling and help learners explore other possible options and solutions in a more positive way. Follow ups are done using phone calls, texting, and in some cases WhatsApp chats on the clients receiving counselling sessions and positive feedback is being received from caregivers about improved behavior and conduct of their children as a result of CBT sessions. Providing some of their school children who are living with HIV, services that are offered virtually include ART drug adherence, age appropriate HIV treatment literacy, viral load monitoring, risk assessments, psycho-social support, and Covid-19 messages. The messages are age appropriate and CRS is working with the caregivers who will help the child to take up their medication as prescribed. Through phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages and Childline 116 helpline support-based system, children are receiving COVID-19 messages, study tips and messages of encouragement to study in preparation for school opening and national examinations.

• Elevate Trust has launched a campaign on "safer schools” to equip rural schools with Covid-19 prevention and testing supplies under the #LeaveNoOneBehind. Kits being distributed include thermometers, disinfecting solutions, knapsack, bucket with tap, antimicrobial hand wash, alcohol-based sanitizer, face shield, washable gowns and face masks.

• FACT Zimbabwe is having ongoing discussions with MoPSE through the respective DSIs on preparations for the re-opening of schools and the kind of support required to ensure that this happens smoothly. Contact with families of Education Support beneficiaries is being maintained by FACT staff and designated community cadres through the phone to check on their welfare and to encourage them to stay safe.

Gaps and constraints

• Inadequate Human and Financial Resources: While partners have supported the development of the Education Cluster COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, many face human and financial resource constraints to respond to the urgent needs of learners.

Zimbabwe Education Cluster (Save the Children & UNICEF) https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/zimbabwe/education

Education Cluster Situation Report | 4 • Reduced Mobility and Access: Both partners and Government staff are facing fiscal and technical constraints to enable staff to work remotely and respond to the needs of learners. To add to the challenge, the lockdown has also reduced the mobility of staff, with implications for the implementation of response activities. While Government issued some letters following the initial lockdown, some partners are facing renewed mobility challenges during the second phase of the lock-down. Time-critical solutions to focus on learners who cannot access digital or radio lessons, due to coverage or household considerations are minimal and need to be addressed further to enhance response.

Coordination

• Despite the national lockdown and technical challenges related to communication, partners have continued to convene virtual meetings every week, to discuss and address issues related to the proposed response. In addition, the cluster has established Technical Working Groups to operationalize the COVID-19 Strategy. These TWGs meet regularly to discuss technical issues and provide updates to the larger weekly cluster meetings on WhatsApp.

• Partners encouraged to visit the cluster webpage on Humanitarian Response to access latest products and resources shared in relation to HRP and COVID-19 Response. Please access the webpage using the following link: ZIM Education Cluster HR Info Webpage.

• The cluster is currently having weekly coordination meetings with partners every Tuesday from 1430Hrs to 1530Hrs. The Cluster has also established WhatsApp groups to ensure regular communication and collaboration around response plans.

Fig 1: CARE: Boora classroom block in about to Fig 2: Save the Children: Country Director Heather Kerr be completed before school reopen. addressing the teachers during teacher training workshop

Zimbabwe Education Cluster (Save the Children & UNICEF) https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/zimbabwe/education