President caps 391 Bindura university graduates

last year’s 363.
The graduands were also part of the graduates that bore the brunt of the economic downturn. The students started their studies in 2007. In his remarks at the 10th graduation ceremony yesterday, Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje said the economic challenges forced a number of students to drop out.

“The bulk of this year’s graduands enrolled for their programmes in August 2007. That was the time when the effects of the sanctions were at their worst,” said Prof Mwenje.
“Indeed for them the whole study period was turbulent but surprisingly they showed resilience, adaptability, fortitude and courage, and at the end they performed well against these odds.”
The university, Prof Mwenje said, had recorded significant developments since the last graduation ceremony in September last year.

“The number of staff who are PhD holders rose through recruitment from three to 12. This is a welcome development and we are confident the numbers will continue to go up.”
He, however, said 22 staff members were reading for their doctorates with institutions they have entered into partnership with in the region and abroad.
“Six of these members are expected to graduate next year, while the remainder will graduate in 2013,” he said.

Prof Mwenje said Bindura University had also seen a marked increase in academic support as the college filled vacant posts with the required specialised expertise.
“There is, therefore, reversal of the flight of skills to a brain gain at the Bindura University of Science Education,” he said.
Prof Mwenje said the university, through Government, planned to recruit six professors from Cuba next year.

The Science Teachers Training programme started last year in Mashonaland Central and Prof Mwenje said it contributed significantly to the science education enrolment figures at the institution. Four more centres have been opened in Matabeleland North, South, Manicaland and Mashonaland Central for the programme.
“The combined enrolment for the programme which started last year stands at 1 438. This is a notable achievement in enrolment given that the institution produced 1 087 teachers of 10 years from 2000-2-011,” he said.

The college has also embarked on various projects such as the virtual open distance learning programme and replacement of copper wire with optic fibre.
“The overall enrolment for the institution increased from 3 767 students in 2010 to 4 500 in 2011, an 18 percent increase in students registered with the university.

“Female students account for about 40 percent of the total number of students at the university. We have some work to do in order to encourage female students to take science courses,” he said.
He said payment of fees continued to improve.