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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
At least 416 students graduated yesterday at Madziwa Teachers’ College, including the first batch of science and mathematics teachers. Of the 416 graduates, 265 were female, while 151 were male. The college has trained 1 773 teachers to date.
The graduation ceremony was held under the theme, “Excellence in Teacher Education: The Linchpin for National Development.”
Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Dr Desire Mutize Sibanda said he was pleased to note that the first batch of 120 students for Early Childhood Development (ECD) intake was currently in stream.
“Madziwa Teachers’ College was the only primary school teachers’ college that had not yet produced a single ECD teacher,” he said.
“It is pleasing to note that the first batch of EDC intake is currently in stream and will graduate in 2019.
“This is the first largest group of graduates since the inception of the college in 2005.
“Madziwa Teachers’ College has trained a total of 1 773 teachers out of the 177 003 produced by all teacher colleges to date.
“This historic figure for a fledging college has been achieved through capacitating teachers in the teaching of science and increasing absorption rate of post Ordinary and Advanced students in Zimbabwe.
“The indisputable high literacy rate achieved over the years should help us to uplift our economy and open up unlimited opportunities for employment creation in an endeavour to alleviate poverty and achieve middle-economy status by 2030.”
Madziwa Teachers’ College principle Mrs Memory Moyo said the college was short-staffed and operating with 46 lecturers instead of 113.
“The requisite support staff is 62, but sadly we have 40,” she said.
“These women and men are few, but they work tirelessly to make things happen.
“The graduates were exposed to immense and wholesome academic and hands on practical orientation for three years. We have 123 distinctions and the pass rate dropped from 98 percent to 90,8 percent.
“Great strides have been made to transform the sleeping mining giant into a hub of excellence and we have adapted the mining outdoor infrastructure for tutorials and student accommodation.
“The college is now a giant to reckon with in sporting activities.
“By harnessing quality teacher education, our nation will operate on affirm pedestal in efforts to improve living conditions of its citizens.
“Thus the curriculum offered to students who are graduating today was firmly skewed in reconfiguring, reshaping and realigning the mindset of our learners to the rich sustainable skills for national development.”
Online Reporter