Heritage Based Education 5.0 key to attainment of Vision 2030

HIGHER and Tertiary Education Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira has said the Heritage Based Education 5.0 philosophy introduced by the Second Republic is driving Vision 2030 aimed at transforming the economy into an empowered upper middle-income status.

Upon its inception, the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa reconfigured the colonial education system to make it a result-based education system that is able to produce goods and services as well as proffer solutions to the country’s challenges.

In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy Cde Raymond Machingura during the Kwekwe Polytechnic 38th graduation ceremony yesterday, Prof Murwira said the new education philosophy, which has already started producing results, is key in the attainment of Vision 2030.

“Heritage-based Education 5.0 philosophy is our own homegrown education model which suits us, made by ourselves and is being implemented by ourselves. Our ministry is unwavering in implementing the philosophy to support programmes aimed at driving the 2030 objective of making Zimbabwe an empowered upper middle-income society,” he said.

Prof Murwira urged the graduates to explore more opportunities that open the door for them in the world of work. He said innovation remains key if they are to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.

“Apply knowledge and skills imparted in you equitably and prepare to be at the forefront to lead the struggle that will transform the lives of our people. Once you acquired the requisite skills in a particular trade, don’t wait for anyone, go and use those skills to produce goods and services,” he said.

“If you have skills then you have a job. We are looking forward to seeing a number of consortia and business units created by the 2023 graduates from Kwekwe Polytechnic to cause industrialisation and modernisation.”

A total of 1 129 graduands were conferred with certificates and diplomas in various disciplines that include engineering, commerce and information technology.

Of these, 45 percent were females and 36 percent of these females graduated under the STEM-related programmes.

Some of the graduates are products of short courses that are offered by the institution in the adult and continuing education department.

Kwekwe Polytechnic itself has made significant strides in Heritage-Based Education 5.0 with the institution having recorded a number of milestone projects.

Students from the college play a significant role in Kwekwe district where they implement a number of projects that include building, plumbing and engineering works under the District Civil Protection Committee among other programmes.

Recently, the college designed a traffic density-controlled traffic lights system which attracted the attention of Kwekwe City Council.

The local authority has since engaged the college for the installation of robots at five intersections in the city.

The mining town has only one traffic light making driving a nightmare in the city due to increased traffic volumes.

Kwekwe Polytechnic principal, Mr Evans Musara said the local authority was impressed by the students’ traffic lights system.

“Bill of quantities and costing have been drawn and we are just waiting for Kwekwe City Council to give us the green light and funding to start the project. At the ZITF we sold the concept to a number of local authorities which have shown interest,” he said.