Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
MKOBA Teachers College (MTC) in Gweru is transforming itself into a hub of innovation and problem-solving skills as it celebrates 50 years of teacher training, fully aligning with Vision 2030 through its Heritage-based Education 5.0 approach.
Among the top innovations, MTC has developed mobile sinks that transform classrooms into laboratories and are also suitable for funerals, churches and public gatherings.
The college has also developed a smart home security system that alerts homeowners to door openings or motion via mobile devices, a work suit with padded shoulders for safety, and an eco-pit latrine detergent.
Speaking at the college’s 46th graduation and Golden Jubilee ceremony on Friday, MTC Principal, Dr Rosina Mavunga, said the institution was no longer just producing educators but nurturing innovators and problem-solvers who could drive national growth.
Higher and Tertiary Education Deputy Minister, Simelisizwe Sibanda, officiated at the event themed: “Heritage: a lifetime of empowerment, transforming lives through education” and challenged teacher training colleges to become engines of innovation and entrepreneurship, saying the era of producing graduates who merely seek employment is over.
“Education 5.0 is centred on the shift from producing job seekers to producing job creators. The model allows graduates to create employment,” he said.
In her report, Dr Mavunga said heritage focusing was not a static relic but a living, breathing force, which gives MTC roots and inspiration to achieve greater results.
She said the college has fully embraced the Heritage-based Education 5.0 philosophy, with students and staff producing market-ready innovations.
“At Mkoba Teachers College, we have inculcated a culture of creativity and problem-solving among our staff and students as a driver for commercialisation,” said Dr Mavunga.
She said MTC has secured orders for the sinks during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and has set up a workshop for bulk production.
“Other projects include a digital mentor, an Arduino-based system for improving digital skills; an automated class register for real-time attendance management; and a campus disaster risk management system that uses the local area network to enable instant emergency reporting,” said Dr Mavunga.
“Our commitment to research and knowledge dissemination is equally noteworthy. Over the past year, our staff and students have published 14 journal articles, 33 book chapters and six textbooks aimed at offering valuable insights into education.
“Our lecturers and students also continue to participate actively in research conferences, sharing expertise and collaborating with peers nationally and beyond.”
She applauded the 679 graduands who were drawn from three programmes, the Diploma in Primary Education (468), split into Early Childhood Development (169) and 299 for the General Course. The Diploma in Secondary Science Education produced 211 graduands.
Dr Mavunga said the graduation class secured 458 distinctions — 108 in ECD, 213 in the General Course, and 137 in Secondary Science.
“We’re not just preparing educators, but also nurturing innovators and problem-solvers who will drive growth in our society as we move towards the attainment of Vision 2030,” she said.
Dr Mavunga highlighted the college’s expanding role in community development, noting that Gangarabwe Group of Schools was now operational. Construction of Ishasha School in Mvuma is set to begin before year-end.
“This achievement shows our dedication to community engagement and rural industrialisation, which are critical elements in the achievement of the National Development Strategy 2,” she said.
In March 2026, Dr Mavunga said students mobilised groceries and donated them to an orphan at Vungwi Primary School in Shurugwi as part of the college’s social responsibility programme.
She said the college has also established a Cultural Hub to preserve and promote Zimbabwean heritage, adding that features include a replica of a traditional homestead with stonework, chevron designs and pole-and-mud huts, as well as a traditional restaurant under construction.
On equity and inclusion, Dr Mavunga said 87 students had benefitted from the college’s Work Study Programme over the past three years.
Dr Mavunga said the college’s jubilee celebration was a moment to honour the past while preparing for the future.
She urged graduates to carry forward the college’s values of excellence, creativity and service as Zimbabwe works towards becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
