Education in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe: official figures
42.0% of secondary-school-age children in Matabeleland South were attending secondary school in 2023-24 (net attendance ratio), the lowest of the 10 provinces (Zimbabwe: 53.5%).
Do children in Matabeleland South go to primary school?
90.9% of primary-school-age children in Matabeleland South were attending primary school in 2023-24, the joint highest of the 10 provinces (Zimbabwe: 86.8%).
Source: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many children in Matabeleland South are out of school?
At the 2022 census, 8.5% of children of primary school age and 24.7% of secondary school age in Matabeleland South were out of school; 2nd highest of the 10 provinces for secondary age (Zimbabwe: 9.6% and 16.7%).
Source: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) · saved copyHow educated are women in Matabeleland South?
46.2% of women aged 15 to 49 in Matabeleland South had completed secondary school or gone further in 2023-24, 4th highest of the 10 provinces (Zimbabwe: 49.2%); 94.9% were literate (Zimbabwe: 93.5%).
Source: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyMore figures
- 68.4% of children in Matabeleland South a year below primary school age were in an early childhood education programme in 2023-24, 4th highest of the 10 provinces (Zimbabwe: 67.4%). Source: Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copy
How Matabeleland South compares with other provinces
Secondary school net attendance ratio (2023-24)
Matabeleland South ranks 10 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Secondary school net attendance ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Manicaland | 54.3% |
| 5 | Masvingo | 53.6% |
| 6 | Mashonaland West | 52.1% |
| 7 | Midlands | 51.1% |
| 8 | Matabeleland North | 46.5% |
| 9 | Mashonaland Central | 45.4% |
| 10 | Matabeleland South | 42.0% |
Secondary-school-age children out of school (2022)
Matabeleland South ranks 2 of 10, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Secondary-school-age children out of school |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matabeleland North | 28.8% |
| 2 | Matabeleland South | 24.7% |
| 3 | Mashonaland Central | 20.9% |
| 4 | Midlands | 18.8% |
| 5 | Mashonaland West | 17.3% |
| 6 | Masvingo | 16.9% |
| 7 | Manicaland | 14.1% |
More on Matabeleland South: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · Zimbabwe
Sources
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT): 2022 Population and Housing Census Report (Volume 1): appendix tables by province, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdebd23be87e…)
- Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) and Ministry of Health and Child Care, with ICF (The DHS Program): Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey 2023-24: Final Report (province rows of the tables), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0a74a171032f…)
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