Govt owes tertiary colleges US$35m

He was responding to a question from Bulawayo South MP, Mr Edward Cross (MDC-T) during a question and answer session. Mr Cross had asked the Minister what was the total Government obligation to students enrolled in Zimbabwe under the cadetship programme.

The Minister said in 2010, the total Government obligation stood at US$23 million, while in 2011 it stood at US$37 million.
“In 2010 my ministry received US$10 million from Treasury for the cadetship meaning Government owed US$13 million to universities and colleges. This year the Ministry of Finance provided US$15 million,” he said.

Students who completed their studies would be bonded and only when they completed the bonding period would they get the actual certificates, said the Minister.
Responding to another question, Education, Sports, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Lazarus Dokora, said the Government would now insist on the setting up of science laboratories for all those who wanted to set up high schools. This is part of efforts to enhance the learning of science subjects, said the Deputy Minister.

He was responding to a question from Chitungwiza North MP, Mr Fidelis Mhashu (MDC-T) who had asked what the Ministry was doing to ensure that schools offered specialised subjects such as Physics, Mathematics and other sciences.

“We do not have science teachers that could staff all our schools. We are keen that all high schools will not be allowed to be set up without a science laboratory. We need our community to know that science is a central subject and we still have the task to instill that focus on science as a key enabler,” he said.