Teachers urged to appeal against Zou diplomas ban

In an interview with our Harare Bureau recently, PSC chairperson Dr Mariyawanda Nzuwa, said the graduates should appeal to his commission for a solution to their grievances.

Although Zou is keeping a lid on the number of affected teachers saying they are only 38, insiders said thousands of holders of the teaching diploma are jobless after the PSC refused to recognise their qualification.

Some of the desperate graduates have resorted to using their Ordinary and Advanced level certificates and are now employed as temporary primary school teachers despite having undergone a threeyear teacher training programme.

Pressed to comment on why the PSC was reluctant to recognise the Zou teaching diplomas, Dr Nzuwa said: “I will not comment on issues to do with an officer’s welfare in the press, absolutely not.”

The Zimbabwe Council of Higher Education on Thursday said the contentious issue was now in the hands of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.

Zimche is mandated with evaluating and assessing higher education programmes to ensure they meet the country’s training needs while maintaining world class standards.

Zimche chief executive officer Dr Evelyn Garwe, said the council was dealing with the matter. She said the matter did not fall under Zimche purview.

“The issue is now in the hands of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education. According to the Manpower Development Act, teaching diplomas fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education. When we dealt with the issue we were only assessing. There were areas that we found wanting,” she said, without elaborating.

Dr Garwe referred the Herald to the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.

Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Dr Stan Mudenge and his Secretary Dr Washington Mbizvo were not available for a comment as they were said to be out of office on business.

Zimche, among other things, advises Government on all issues pertaining to higher education. It also ensures the maintenance of appropriate standards with regards to teaching, courses of instruction, examination and academic qualifications in institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe.

Zimche advises the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education on the standardisation, recognition and equation of degrees, diplomas and certificates and other academic qualifications conferred or awarded by institutions of higher learning in Zimbabwe.

Thousands of teachers who attained a diploma in education from Zou are jobless after the Public Service Commission refused to recognise the qualification. The diploma was launched five years ago and benefited thousands of people, mostly temporary teachers who had failed to get training vacancies at conventional colleges.

When schools opened this term, the graduates had to downgrade themselves to secure employment.

However, in a statement Zou argued that the diploma in education was an approved programme of the university launched on February 27 2007 in Lupane.

“The university wishes to inform its stakeholders that consultations are ongoing between Zou and the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.

“Zou assures all graduates and other stakeholders that everything is being done to have this matter resolved as soon as possible.

“Zou is aware of the plight of thirtyeighty (38) graduates of the diploma who have been disadvantaged by a policy position regarding their employment with the Public Service Commission (PSC).

“Your university will advise all stakeholders, accordingly, once the discussions have been concluded,” reads the statement in part.

The university argued that thousands of its graduates were employed by the PSC.