Education sector stability a priority

Higher and Tertiary Education resolved in 2009 that 30 percent of tuition fees be used to pay incentive allowances to both lecturing and non-lecturing staff at the rate of US$100 per month for lecturers and US$75 to support staff.

It was clearly stated from its inception in December 2009, that this was an interim measure which aimed at incentivising lecturers at Polytechnics and Teachers’ Colleges. This policy was modified through a new Policy on Production Units which came into effect from the October 1, 2011. The Policy derives its legal authority from the Manpower Planning and Development Act (Chapter 28:02).
The policy focuses on production and pricing for tertiary education institutions. It allows the tertiary education institutions to operate production units at a profit and to incentivise staff.

The administration of income and expenditure for the funds from production activities is governed by the constitution for Tertiary and Training and Development Fund established on July 17, 1998.
It was put in place to rationalise costing of goods and services and distribution of profits to staff and the institutions. The policy aims to bring about proper co-ordination and harmonisation of production activities as well as foster public confidence in the services and products from all tertiary education institutions.

A production committee chaired by the Vice Principal operates as a sub-committee of the Finance Committee and co-ordinates all production units at the institution. The policy guidelines clearly stipulate that the principal shall have full responsibility for the management of all activities relating to production.
All members of staff and students must be involved in the activities of production units and that proceeds from production activities should be partly used as incentives to motivate members of staff.

The Policy makes provision for the auditing of production units in accordance with Treasury instructions. This ensures transparency and provides a standard framework as a guide which tertiary institutions can use when undertaking activities relating to production. The production activities are designed to expose students and staff to hands on practice within the purview of education and training. Lecturers as mentors assist students and ensure production of high quality goods and service. The policy allows tertiary education institutions to operate production units at a profit and incentivise staff. The projects and services which institutions can embark upon/ engage in include manufacturing and construction, hire of facilities and equipment, short courses, repair maintenance and restoration services, agricultural projects and products as well as research and consultancy.

The Policy allows 40 percent of all profit gained to be distributed equitably to staff who directly contribute towards the project or service, 35 percent is distributed equally to all staff at the college and the other 25 percent is retained in the college coffers for capital development, procurement, maintenance and replacement of assets. The quantum of incentives given to staff is therefore no longer pegged at US$100 as the scheme is flexible and allows for incremental rates of up to a minimum of US$150 for lecturers and a minimum of up to US$100 for support staff instead of the old rates of

US$100 and US$75 respectively. In addition, staff are entitled to between 10 percent to 20 percent discounts on the total cost of any product or service. This therefore further incentivises staff.
In this way, the policy promotes an entrepreneurial culture in both lecturers and students while generating financial resources to be used for development activities in the institutions. All tertiary institutions have been urged to engage in production activities and services such as short courses, consultancy, hire of facilities and equipment, manufacture and production of goods and equipment.

Institutions now have an enabling policy to guide them to come up with innovative production strategies and standard pricing guidelines for goods and services offered to the public and staff. It enables institutions to maintain competitiveness by producing high quality goods and services while developing and sustaining a culture of cost recovery.

The Production and Pricing Policy for Tertiary Education Institutions is a much better system of empowering the institutions and encouraging them to be more productive and self-reliant. It is also a much better way of incentivising lecturers, support staff and students. As it allows all staff and students involved in the Production Service to be paid an allowance for rendering their service to their institution and to members of the public. It is regrettable that one or two lecturers are trying to cause mayhem in the colleges by instigating others into strike action as happened at Masvingo Teachers’

College where some lecturers are on suspension and hence their desire to distort issues and create frustration among staff. Lecturers are reminded that all grievances should be channelled through laid down channels and not through resort to strike action.

Lecturers and the leadership at tertiary institutions are commended for using the legal grievance procedures and for embracing policies geared towards the production of competent human capital for the growth and sustenance of the economy.