adminProsper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
UNIVERSITY of Zimbabwe (UZ) Vice-Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura yesterday urged teachers to take up opportunities in the economy and desist from ripping off parents through extra lessons.In a speech read on his behalf by UZ Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Chipo Dyanda during the 45th graduation ceremony at the United College of Education (UCE) in Bulawayo, Prof Nyagura said teachers should broaden their economic base by tapping opportunities offered through the indigenisation programme.
“As teachers you need to understand and take up opportunities in the economic environment. There is currently an emphasis on youth development through indigenisation. Do not be left out,” said Prof Nyagura.
“The broad education you have received in this college should enable you to be competitive in the economic environment.
“Let us not strip parents of their hard earned cash through extra lessons. There are opportunities in the environment around us to make decent money.”
Prof Nyagura said the empowerment of teachers was essential since educators were the driving force behind the country’s record literacy rate on the continent.
He emphasised the need for teachers to learn all national languages and urged colleges to enroll students from all provinces to ensure that graduates add value to the education sector by addressing learners’ special needs.
In his report, UCE principal Mr Sipho Moyo said the quality of passes at the college had improved compared to the past few years.
Of the 255 students who graduated with diplomas, 54 were drawn from the Early Childhood Development (ECD), 146 from the general course and 64 from special needs department.
The ECD class recorded 100 percent pass rate and six distinctions with the general course and special needs classes recording 96 percent pass rates each.
Mr Moyo said females accounted for 75 percent of the graduating group.
Mr Moyo said the college’s enrolment figures, which had been on the decline in the last few years, had started picking up largely due to the contribution of bridging Ordinary Level courses that increased the number of students with English and Mathematics passes.
He said as a result the college, which has 1 412 students, had received more than 1 000 applicants for next year’s intake.
Mr Moyo said the college was working on upgrading its training programme by integrating inclusive education into the ECD and general course programmes.
He said the college now has a complement of 114 lecturers after recruiting 12 at the beginning of the year.
Mr Moyo said the college was undergoing rehabilitation of major infrastructure as it sought to spruce up its image and efficiency.
That covered upgrading information and communication technology infrastructure, lecture rooms, staff and administration offices and procurement of textbooks, embossers and Braille machines for special classes.
The institution has already acquired a 71-seater bus.
The theme for this year’s graduation was “Towards equality of opportunity through quality education now and beyond.”
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