Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE is set to host the national commemorations of World Literacy Day on Thursday, with Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Torerayi Moyo expected to lead proceedings at Oakleigh House Trust School.
The commemorations are expected to reinforce the country’s literacy agenda under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.
The border town has increasingly become a hub for national education events, with the commemorations coming on the back of a series of major school programmes being hosted in Beitbridge.
The town recently hosted the Provincial Annual Science, Sport and Arts Festival (PASSAF) at the same venue, attracting more than 1 019 pupils.
PASSAF was followed by the National Annual Science, Sport and Arts Festival (NASSAF), which began in Beitbridge on Monday and ends on Friday.
This is the first time Matabeleland South Province is hosting Zimbabwe’s premier school co-curricular festival, which rotates among the country’s 10 provinces on a 10-year cycle.
Matabeleland South Chief Education Director Beatrice Manjere recently said the back-to-back hosting of national education events was a major boost for the district.
NASSAF is the highest level of competition under the Heritage-Based Curriculum and features science and technology exhibitions, sports, arts and technical skills.
Speaking during PASSAF, Minister of State for Matabeleland South Albert Nguluvhe said such platforms were important in identifying and nurturing talent among learners.
“Modern education is no longer confined to textbooks and examinations. It must inspire learners to think critically, solve real-life problems and innovate,” he said.
Chief Tshitaudze of Beitbridge also described PASSAF as an important platform for identifying raw talent in both rural and urban schools.
