Heed his call, says Shamu

Fortunate Gora Mash West Correspondent
VETERAN politician and former Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs Cde Webster Shamu has implored the education sector to work towards the production of well-rounded students, who are competent to provide solutions to 21st century socio-economic challenges.

Speaking at the Mashonaland West Schools Merit Awards at Sinoia Primary School in Chinhoyi on Monday, prior to the dissolution of Cabinet, Cde Shamu said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should improve educational facilities and conditions to produce refined students.

The awards ceremony ran under the theme “Rewarding Excellence in the Implementation of the Updated Education Curriculum” and sought to recognise students, teachers and officials who excelled in sports, arts and academics.

“Accordingly, the theme resonates quite well with the ministry and the Government expectations to produce a well-rounded, multi-skilled educational product, who responds well to the 21st socio-economic dispensation in terms of skills and competency. A school graduate whom we so desire as a nation,” he said.

Cde Shamu said Government expected maximum commitment from teachers and the education directorate. He commended President Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech before reiterating his call for civil servants to raise the bar in terms of service delivery.

“As Government we expect a high degree of professionalism and commitment from the entire ministry personnel from the classroom teacher to the directorate,” he said.

“In his inaugural speech, His Excellency Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa made it clear that civil servants needed to perform and provide services to the satisfaction of the people. He said it was no longer business as usual.” Cde Shamu also called on stakeholders to work with Government in establishing proper learning infrastructure for the effective implementation of the new curriculum. This, he said will help in improving the provincial examination pass rates.

“I would like to urge all stakeholders here present to support, co-operate and participate actively in the ministry’s efforts to establish proper learning infrastructure for effective curriculum implementation. Deliberate strategies should be adopted in order to improve provincial examination pass rates,” he said.