Government commits to empowering polytechnic graduates

GOVERNMENT has expressed confidence in the quality of artisans produced by the country’s polytechnic colleges and is committed to supporting graduates in establishing start-up companies to help grow the economy.

This pronouncement was made during the 95th graduation ceremony at Bulawayo Polytechnic College last Thursday, where 2 502 students were awarded diplomas in various fields, including a significant number from the newly-established Binga and Plumtree Polytechnic Colleges.

Of the graduates, 1 348 were female and 1 154 were male, underscoring the increasing participation of women in technical fields.

The ceremony was themed “Heritage-Based Enhanced Education 5.0 for Sustainable National Development”, highlighting the Government’s focus on developing skills which contribute to industrialisation and economic self-sufficiency.

In his keynote address, delivered by Mrs Memory Mukondomi, a director in the ministry, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, said the Government is committed to delivering an education system that meets the needs of the people.

He lauded the shift from an education of mere literacy to one that combines literacy with practical action, driven by Heritage-Based Education 5.0.

“His Excellency, the President, Dr ED Mnangagwa transformed the trajectory of education of this country from an education of literacy to an education of literacy and action through Heritage-Based Education 5.0,” he said.

“The thrust of the Second Republic is to deliver Heritage-Based Education 5.0 that focuses on developing graduates with the correct knowledge, correct skills, correct values and correct attitudes to produce goods and services needed by our people.

“Our people want food, water, shelter, communication, sleep and innovation. Heritage-Based Education 5.0 is our means to cause the capabilities to produce these goods and services needed by our people.”

Prof Murwira urged graduates to leverage their skills to establish start-up companies, stressing that industries and businesses are created by people, particularly graduates, rather than appearing from nowhere.

“We, therefore, would like to see our graduates being helped to form start-up companies. Industries and businesses do not fall from the sky, they are created by people, particularly graduates like yourselves. Let us discard the colonial mentality of working for others. You shall not walk alone in this innovation and industrialisation drive,” he said.

Prof Murwira said the Government is ready to provide the necessary legal and financial support to help graduates develop businesses and create employment.

“The work of the Government in all this is to provide the necessary legal and financial support to enable our graduates to develop businesses, thereby creating employment for themselves and others,” he said.

The minister highlighted that Zimbabwe’s heritage, including its natural resources and people, is central to the country’s development. Through Heritage-Based Education 5.0, the Government aims to harness these resources to fulfil the population’s needs and drive the industrialisation agenda.

“It’s important to note that our education, through enabling innovation in science and technology development, is the processor that processes our heritage for the fulfilment of our human needs.

“Through Heritage-Based Education 5.0 we are developing capabilities for the full exploitation of the education value chain as well as producing goods and services that satisfy the needs of our people,” he said.

“The Second Republic has provided an opportunity to start new industries and companies through our Graduate Employment Creation and Development Programme. Through the Zimbabwe Graduate Employment Creation and Development Programme, our graduates are being assisted by the Government, to establish companies of their own.”

Prof Murwira said the Government is convinced that graduates from polytechnics are skilled enough to establish vibrant industries producing quality affordable goods and services.

He said polytechnics are well placed to produce work-ready artisans, technicians, technologists and engineers with the skills to transform the industrial landscape in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Graduate Employment Creation and Development Programme was cited as a key initiative that supports graduates in establishing their own companies.

He urged the graduates to apply their acquired knowledge and skills to excel in their chosen fields, prioritise innovation, research, and entrepreneurship, and consider further studies to enhance their expertise.

Prof Murwira also noted the ministry’s Integrated Skills Expansion Outreach Programme (ISEOP), designed to impart life skills and competencies to the broader public. The programme aims to reach every village in Zimbabwe within the next five years, ensuring no one is left behind.

“In the next five years, our ambition is for the ISOEP programme to touch every village in every corner of the country, thus leaving no place and no one behind. We urge you all the graduates to go forth and apply the acquired knowledge and skills to excel in your selected fields,” he said.

“Prioritise innovation, research, and entrepreneurship, and utilise these competencies to enhance industrial development. Embark on further studies to sharpen your expertise.”