Education with production brings success

Freedom Mutanda
FOR nearly a century, the powers that be in the colonial government were contended with delivering an inferior education to African children in pre-independence Zimbabwe. Obviously, as education is an empowering tool, whites could not go beyond the three Rs ie reading, writing and arithmetic, purely for political reasons.

The 1966 Education Act ensured that 37.5 percent of African Grade Seven graduands enrolled at F2 schools that had a practical subject laden curriculum ostensibly to keep Africans in the hewers-of-wood-and drawers- of- water domain.

It was a clear racist piece of legislation in support of Ian Smith’s discrimination agenda.

If the African is taught practical skills, he won’t aspire to achieve political leadership of the country.

Smith clearly miscalculated. Africans joined the liberation struggle in droves.

Educated Africans left studies at third year university level without finishing their studies to join the liberation that had reached its decisive phase.

There is nothing overtly wrong with students studying practical subjects; what was inherently wrong was the intention behind the policy-discrimination.

Actually, those who have a flair for practical subjects such as Building, Carpentry and Metal Work survive any harsh economic environment.

After independence, the new government led by the then Prime Minister Cde Robert Mugabe, followed a robust programme to equip youngsters with life skills.

To that end, Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College came on board along with many technical and vocational colleges that galvanised many sons and daughters of the nation to be technically adept.

In light of the vocational subjects that became the in-thing in Zimbabwean education, Building Studies teachers were deployed in the so-called upper tops such as Chipangayi Secondary School.

Building Studies requires mortar, water and a space to work that is generally known as the building site.

The teacher then imparts skills to the eager-eyed students who use their hands and other motor skills as they build various ‘bonds’ and structures.

Itai Tiriwekufa (29) is an example of how EWP has changed his life to a position he hitherto never envisaged.

“My brother, I never thought I would be a proud owner of a house in a high-density suburb and drive to work in my own car. God is great indeed.

“With the money accrued from my building excursions I was able to send my brother, Rekerai, to the University of Zimbabwe where he is due to graduate with a Degree in Sociology.” Itai speaks with an air of humility, but one can see he is proud of his line of work.

In 2004, he wrote his ‘O’ levels examinations at Chipangayi Secondary School where he excelled in Building Studies under the tutelage of Mr Clever Sigauke who has become his mentor over the years.

Thus began the two’s relationship which has blossomed to a full time partnership culminating in their constant interaction when it comes to solving construction problems.

Itai went to attend the NODAD vocational college at Tongogara Refugee Camp.

He did Carpentry and Building Studies and returned to Chipangayi Rural Service Centre where he bought a stand and soon people hired him to build houses for them.

What is the secret of his success?

“Baba is a hard worker. He does his things meticulously. He rests after work to replenish his strength; he does not drink beer,” his soft spoken wife, Mai Genius, answered.

At the service centre, many builders ply their trades there. It is a dog-eat-dog world where the survival of the fittest is the catch word.

Notwithstanding the stiff competition, Tiriwekufa has done wonders resulting in sending his wife, Abigail, to Marymount Teachers’ College to train as a teacher.

His friend, Tendai Dzakatira, a local enterprising entrepreneur, paid tribute to the work ethic that Itai Tiriwekufa has that makes him be a jerk of all trades in order for his construction company to remain afloat.

“This man works like Hercules. No job is too big for him. He hates begging and so he pushes himself to the upper- most limit for perfection to be achieved. Some mornings he wakes me up to go and start a building project. He has projects at Checheche as well.”

The Chipangayi Secondary School Building Studies teacher who has been at the institution for many years attributes Tiriwekufa’s success as sheer determination to succeed at all costs.

“Itai has that self drive and humility that make other people green with envy. His public relations are superb.
To be a contractor requires patience and honest, attributes he has in abundance. Secondly, he has raised the clan name to rise to unprecedented level. He is a shining beacon to those I teach Building Studies,” Mr. Sigauke said.

He has roped in several school leavers who did their high school at the local school.

They help him as assistant builders. In matters of employment, Itai has done his part in capacitating a number of youths in the area apart from being their role model.

In a world where white collar jobs are revered, Itai Tiriwekufa, is one of the leading lights in his advocacy for young boys and girls to be equipped with practical skills for them to create employment and not to moan and groan over a dearth in youth unemployment

The sky is the limit for the 29-year-old entrepreneur who is heading towards attaining construction- mogul status.

The first steps have been taken; what is left is to reach the peak of his career largely due to the post independence educational policy of Education With Production (EWP).