Hillside Teachers’ College celebrated as beacon of excellence in education

Sikhumbuzo Moyo

HILLSIDE Teachers’ College serves as a shining beacon of excellence in teacher education, University of Zimbabwe Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by Professor Emmanuel Chabata, Head of the University’s Centre for Teacher Education and Material Development, at the College’s 67th graduation ceremony, Prof Mapfumo said the institution embodies core values of the national education transformation agenda that is rooted in the ideals of Education 5.0.
“It is our collective míssion to train educators who will not only teach, but also create, innovate and commercialize their knowledge for the benefit of Zimbabwe and the region,” said Prof Mapfumo.

He said the ceremony was not just a celebration of academic achievement but the nation was releasing a cohort of purpose-driven educators, innovators and agents of social and technological change.
“This is a shared honour for us all as well as having walked the journey together under the guiding vision of the University of Zimbabwe, with Hillside Teachers College serving as a shining beacon of excellence in teacher education,” said Prof Mapfumo.

He told the graduands that in the age of information overload and global connectivity, their role is no longer just about delivering content, but they are the translators of higher education knowledge, tasked with taking complex concepts and making them accessible, relevant ad engaging for the next generation of learners.

Prof Mapfumo said the graduands are the change agents who will empower learners to engage critically with their heritage, see themselves in the curriculum and explore their environment with a product development orientation.
“By fostering this environment, you become visionaries, helping your students to imagine industry-driven futures rooted in our cultural legacy. You are also the heritage stalwarts, the guardians of our cultural legacy who will ensure that our traditions and knowledge systems are not lost but are instead a launch pad for modern innovation,” said Prof Mapfumo.