adminTinomuda Chakanyuka Sunday News Reporter
MORE than 2 000 primary and secondary school teachers have enrolled at various State universities around the country under the $5 million Teacher Capacity Development Programme, a Government scholarship programme aimed at increasing the capacity of educators in the country. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango told Sunday News last week that 2 043 teachers have been selected as the first batch of beneficiaries of the programme, expected to start studies next year.
Dr Utete-Masango said the second batch, of almost a similar size, was expected to start studies at the beginning of the second semester next year, with the selection of candidates still ongoing.
Five state universities, namely Bindura University of Science Education, Great Zimbabwe University, Midlands State University and the Zimbabwe Open University have partnered Government on the programme.
A total of 530 teachers have enrolled at Bindura University of Science Education, 200 at Great Zimbabwe University, 501 at Midlands State University and 701 at the Zimbabwe Open University.
“The exercise is ongoing and so far we have completed selecting the first batch and those selected have enrolled at the five universities that we have partnered. They will start their studies in various areas next year. The exercise is still ongoing and we are now selecting the second batch of candidates who will start their studies in the second semester.
“All those who have enrolled will conduct their studies during school holidays, on block release programmes so that the scholarship programme does not disturb the normal school calender,” she said.
Some of the disciplines on offer under the programme include Sciences, Mathematics, education planning, building and designing, languages, humanities and Information Communication Technology(ICT).
The Teacher Capacity Development Programme, a brain child of the Education Ministry, with input from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, was launched in July this year by President Mugabe.
An initial $3 million was made available for the programme at its launch, with Government injecting $600 000 while the other $2,4 million was donated by Unicef and an additional $2 million was secured from an undisclosed source.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora recently said frantic efforts were being made to secure more funding for the programme to allow more teachers to further their education.
He also urged teachers who hold non-teaching qualifications to take advantage of the programme to acquire the requisite qualifications which will guarantee their tenure in Government.
Dr Dokora said the future of teachers without education related credentials was uncertain as Government is making efforts to ensure that the country’s schools are manned by qualified personnel.
Beneficiaries of the programme will have their tuition covered by Government for the duration of their study and the money will not be deducted from their salaries, as they would be bonded and expected to work for Government for a specified period.
After the launch of the programme in July this year, which was followed by Dr Dokora’s call for teachers to go back to school and enhance their qualifications, reports in the local media suggested that teachers who did not have passes in Mathematics and English Language at Ordinary level would be fired from service.
Dr Dokora, however, clarified the issue that had sparked panic in the education sector, saying Government had not issued an ultimatum to anyone but was simply encouraging teachers to retool themselves.
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