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That is the message from Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira.
He was commenting on the current tertiary fees’ hikes.
“Don’t play with people’s education over politics,” the Minister said.
“The Zimbabwean education is relatively lower (in terms of cost) than other African countries and this issue of fees is very complex.
“The Government and Ministry have helped students, who genuinely want to learn but, at the same time, cannot afford it.
“There are loans as well that we give to students, but no one is claiming them.”
He said Zimbabwe was in the process of evolving from colonial education to a new system.
Speaking at a press conference in Harare yesterday, after a visit by a Russian Federation delegation, Prof Murwira said the colonial education system had deliberately excluded the innovation aspect.
“We were exposed to colonial education and making things was not part of our education, implementing things was not part of it and cramming things was part of our education. But, now, we are moving into innovation and development and we are excited to cooperate with you (Russia) and cooperate with the rest of the world when it comes to making our education work for the people,” he said.
The Russians’ visit was intended to make Zimbabwe part of the Russian-Africa Network of Universities.
Zimbabwe became the first African country to partner with Russia in this initiative.
The Minister said the initiative came at the right time, when his Ministry was working towards the development of the education sector.
“The teaching development occurred over a long period, in terms of teaching and research, but the innovation and industrialisation thrust is a product of the past three years.
“So, you might have seen that we are in the process of implementing the innovation drive,” Prof Murwira said.
Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Sergey Terashkevich, expressed gratitude to the Government of Zimbabwe.
Terashkevich said the move will see the development of cooperation in launching and implementing Russian-Zimbabwean projects.
The Russians’ visit resulted in 10 universities signing Memorandums of Understanding with the Russian Federation.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter