Train the Teachers – Revitalizing Physical and Health Education in Zimbabwe

“When the mind is tired, move the body.”

Zimbabwe has endured a deep economic crisis for over a decade, and teacher training colleges (TTCs) have been among the hardest hit. With empty state coffers, teacher training suffers from a lack of resources, materials, and motivation. Yet, education remains the single most important driver of development — and in Zimbabwe, physical education (PE) has long been one of the most popular subjects in basic education, as shown in [this video].

LiiKe Supports 17 TTCs Across Zimbabwe

LiiKe supports 17 teacher training colleges throughout Zimbabwe by providing:

• sports and teaching equipment
• professional training and development
• e-learning material packages

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Why This Matters

Zimbabwe’s economy has collapsed, and teachers are struggling. Over the past few decades, PE in TTCs and basic education has deteriorated dramatically. Adaptive PE for students with disabilities is virtually nonexistent. Overcrowded classrooms in higher education make it even more difficult to teach PE effectively. Women remain underrepresented in the field of physical education.

Health education, meanwhile, is considered a cross-cutting theme, integrated into other subjects — often with weak implementation.

Without proper physical and health education, students are not equipped to care for their own well-being, which leads to:

• Worsening public health outcomes
• Increased healthcare costs and economic losses for both individuals and society

The lack of inclusive PE violates the rights of persons with disabilities to participate in physical activity, lead healthy lives, and take part equally in school and society. Yet, PE remains one of the most popular subjects — a key tool for attracting students who might otherwise be absent from school.

Goals and Actions

The project’s overarching goals are to:

• Improve the quality and inclusivity of PE and health education in Zimbabwean primary and secondary schools
• Increase the participation of women and persons with disabilities in sports and education

To achieve this, the project:

• Trains PE teachers in all 17 TTCs across Zimbabwe
• Introduces modern methods in PE, adaptive PE, and health education
• Works in collaboration with:
  • Sports Leaders’ Institute of Zimbabwe (SLIZ)
  • Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee
  • Special Olympics Zimbabwe
  • Zimbabwe Paralympic Association
  • The National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe

Upgrading Infrastructure and Mindsets

The project also supports the development of e-learning opportunities in cooperation with local tech providers to improve learning outcomes. TTCs will see their sports facilities and equipment upgraded, improving the overall quality of teaching and ensuring that persons with disabilities can fully participate.

Additionally, the project supports:

• Five secondary schools, by training PE teachers and
• Making sports facilities disability-inclusive

It also includes advocacy work to challenge negative attitudes toward disability and inclusive sports, helping advance the rights of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe.

Funding and Support

The project is supported by Finland’s development cooperation funds (2023–2026) and private donations.

Help us strengthen education and inclusion through sports — for all.