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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
TEACHERS’ colleges have been challenged to upscale research in their curricula to allow for teacher education institutions’ contribution towards the achievement of Vision 2030.
In a speech read on his behalf by Tertiary Education Council chairperson, Mrs Martha Muguti; Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira encouraged teachers’ colleges to continue embracing the heritage based education, saying it is key in the modernisation of Zimbabwe.
He said teacher education under Education 5.0 seeks to produce a teacher who is a catalyst for industrialisation.
“For an industrialised and modernised Zimbabwe, the teachers coming out of all our colleges must be Education 5.0 compliant. As Zimbabwe, we want to bake a properly trained teacher who will be a catalyst for industrialisation. This is how education, when it is well-framed within the context of national development, will cause industrialisation and modernisation,” he said.
In a speech read on his behalf by University of Zimbabwe’s Dean of Education, Professor Oswell Hapanyengwi during Marymount Teachers’ College graduation ceremony last week on Saturday, University of Zimbabwe Chancellor, Professor Paul Mapfumo urged the institution’s students to partake in comprehensive and worthy researches that will contribute to the development of the country.
“We want researches that lead to problem solving, while highlighting the problems and challenges that our people are facing. Such researches should be carried out from within our communities, so that the populace is involved and proper information is collected.
“Similarly, teachers’ colleges should find means and ways of servicing local communities. Their student teachers should not wait for attachment to interact with communities,” he said.
Professor Mapfumo applauded Marymount Teachers’ College for being one of the first primary school training colleges to successfully implement the Science for Secondary Schools Programme and train secondary school science teachers.
In 2019, the college became the fourth training college for primary school teachers to train secondary school science teachers.
The first cohort of secondary school science teachers to be trained at the college will sit for their exams this November.
Professor Mapfumo described this as a milestone for the college, adding that this will help in transforming the nation into a prosperous and middle income economy by 2030.
The institution’s principal, Ms Petty Silitshena said the college is adhering to Education 5.0.
Ms Silitshena said the college hopes to come up with start-up projects that will enhance the sustainability of Marymount Teachers’ College.
She challenged the graduates to keep advancing their research and academic pursuits.
“I urge you not to take this academic milestone as an end in itself, but rather as a means to an end. Get together and open a school, you have the knowledge and skills to do so. Nothing should stop you. Of what use is education if you cannot help your country in her time of need?
“We want thinkers of great thought, we want doers of great deeds. Be that when you go into society and make us proud,” said Ms Silitshena.
A total of 1 857 graduates graduated from eight different intakes, with four intakes being those of ECD teachers.
Online Reporter