Tertiary institutions urged to lead development agenda

Mash Central Bureau
Tertiary education should be at the centre of the country’s development agenda since it has the capacity to solve some of the country’s problems, a Cabinet minister has said.

For a long time, the Government has been grappling with the need to re-examine the role of higher education in economic development after realising that the design and content of the education system was of limited relevance and little connection to the economy and society.

Most of the research work by tertiary institutions does not address the challenges facing the country, such as the promotion of economic and industrial development, eradication of poverty, climate change, water ,energy and the optimal use of our natural resources.

The Minister responsible for Monitoring and Implementation of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo, who was speaking during a tour of Goat Genesis Research Centre at Bindura University of Science Education last week, said Government will ensure that universities and colleges are adequately funded to enable them to continue fulfilling their mandate.

“It is against this background that the establishment of the Goat Genesis Research Centre at BUSE was identified for implementation under the 100-day circle programme. The introduction of the centre is a strong statement by Government to improve livestock production by using artificial insemination to transform the goat industry,” he said.

“I am particularly pleased to learn that the centre has extended the provision of artificial insemination to other stakeholders including extension workers and farmers. Students should take advantage of this window of opportunity by making this centre a space where their potential is enhanced in their chosen field.

“The ultimate objective should be to produce farmers and entrepreneurs rather than job seekers through imparting life skills to your students.”

He said the establishment of an innovation hub at the institution is a move towards finding solutions to the problems affecting the country. Emerging innovators and their supervisors should therefore be wary of reducing the hub into a space where just imitation is done rather than where solutions to pertinent issues are found.

Dr Gumbo said the adoption of the 100-day target-based programme is reflective of the commitment by Government to speed up the implementation of projects for the benefit of the country.