Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
IN line with the vision of Education 5.0, higher and tertiary institutions must go beyond academic excellence and actively drive teaching, research, community service, innovation and industrialisation, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Frederick Shava has said.
He made the remarks at the launch of Phase II of the Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future Plus (O3 PLUS) programme at the National University of Science and Technology on Thursday.
Minister Shava said the Education 5.0 philosophy calls for institutions that are safe, inclusive and responsive, where students can thrive and realise their full potential.
“A student struggling with untreated mental health challenges, drug and substance abuse, gender-based violence, sexual harassment, HIV risk, stigma, or unintended pregnancy cannot fully participate in learning, innovation, research, or production,” he said.
“Equally, a campus that is unsafe, exclusionary, or silent in the face of abuse cannot claim to be aligned with the aspirations of Education 5.0, as championed by His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa.”
He said the O3 PLUS programme is part of a broader vision to build institutions that develop well-rounded graduates who are healthy, empowered and capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
Minister Shava noted that Phase I of the programme, implemented between 2021 and 2025, laid a strong foundation across participating institutions.
“It has demonstrated that when student health and well-being are addressed in a deliberate, institutional and systems-oriented manner, meaningful and sustainable change is possible,” he said.
At policy level, the programme supported the development of frameworks for safer campuses, including sexual harassment policies and accountability mechanisms. At systems level, it strengthened data collection and reporting platforms, including digital systems for analysing student health indicators.
He added that the initiative also facilitated the training of health workers, lecturers, non-academic staff and peer educators, while improving clinic infrastructure and service delivery across institutions.
“These achievements are significant because they move us beyond fragmented interventions towards integrated institutional systems that can be sustained over time,” said Minister Shava.
He said Zimbabwe remains committed to the initiative, contributing knowledge and best practices to the region while improving the well-being of its students.
“The O3 PLUS programme stands as a powerful testament to what can be achieved through strategic partnerships, visionary leadership and a shared commitment to the well-being of young people,” he said.
