Chronicle Editor
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
THE adoption of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 has started bearing fruits with students from teachers’ colleges establishing consortium schools and creating employment for other graduates through the Government-supported Zimbabwe Graduate Employment Creation and Development Programme.
Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, during the Hwange College of Education graduation and prize-giving ceremony last Thursday.
He said under the programme, graduates are equipped with appropriate entrepreneurial aptitudes and competencies to become job creators.
A total of 162 graduated with diplomas and certificates issued by the Higher Education Examinations Council (Hexco) in conjunction with the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) during the colourful ceremony.
Of these 143 were females and 19 males. One of the students Derrick Phiri who died in a freak accident in May graduated posthumously.
Prof Murwira said the Government is looking forward to seeing a number of consortiums and business units created by graduates and contribute to the country’s industrialisation and modernisation agenda in line with Vision 2030.
“The Second Republic is practically supporting the implementation of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 and through Government support, we are seeing the establishment of new industries in universities, polytechnics and teachers’ colleges,” he said.
“Students from teachers’ colleges are establishing consortium schools and creating employment for other graduates through the Government supported Zimbabwe Graduate Employment Creation and Development programme.”
Prof Murwira called on local authorities to avail land for the construction of more colleges.
“Colleges of education are well positioned to establish the best schools in the country. They are experts in education and the role of Government in all this is to provide much-needed financial support,” he said.
“We urge local authorities and community leadership to provide land for this noble cause. We are fully committed to the agenda of ensuring that innovation and industrialisation become an integral part of our tertiary institutions.”
Prof Murwira said the Government is also implementing the Integral Skills Expansion Outreach Programme (ISOEP) which seeks to equip college graduates with practical and applicable skills that will enable them to produce highly competitive goods and services.
He commended Hwange College of Education for heeding the national language policy that made it mandatory for teachers to master at least three indigenous languages as evidenced by the production of ChiNambya and ChiTonga teachers.
“Government of Zimbabwe, through the national languages policy direction and the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, has made it mandatory for teachers to master at least three indigenous languages besides their mother tongue when they leave college for them to be able to teach in all corners of the country,” he said.
“Through this policy direction, we are pleased to inform you that Hwange College of Education has produced ChiNambya and ChiTonga teachers, with some of them being deployed and are already in the schools in Hwange, Lupane and Binga districts.”
Speaking at the same event, University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo called on Government to avail resources towards the construction of the college as it was being weaned off from the United College of Education in Bulawayo.
“As the college is gradually weaned from the United College of Education, I am pleased to note that it has begun on its independent trajectory. I thank the minister (Prof Murwira) for his unwavering support towards the establishment of this college,” he said.
“Your initiative regarding this college has brought relief to the people of Zimbabwe in general and Hwange in particular. You have transformed Hwange and many lives. As Hwange College of Education strives to set up its own structures I continue to call upon you for your material support.”
Hwange College of Education’s acting principal, Mr Royal Ntini said the college continues to grow with student enrolment rising to 754 students since its establishment five years ago.
“I’m pleased to report that the demand to enrol in this college is rising. Last year’s graduation ceremony motivated the local youth. I’m also full of glee to indicate that our pioneer class has been employed and deployed mainly in Hwange, Binga, Lupane, and other districts of Matabeleland North,” he said.
“Also, to refer to this graduating class 43 percent have already been taken on board while the rest are awaiting deployment. The college is already changing lives at a family level, at community and indeed now serving the nation in providing teachers who can teach in ChiNambya and ChiTonga.”
Online Reporter