United College of Education (UCE) graduates 661 students

A TOTAL of 661 students graduated at the United College of Education (UCE) in Bulawayo yesterday amid calls to embrace Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies, while preserving Zimbabwe’s heritage, values and indigenous knowledge to shape the country’s future.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Dr

Frederick Shava, said the new teachers had a critical role to play in producing an innovative, technologically competent and entrepreneurial generation capable of driving Zimbabwe’s transformation under the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 thrust.

In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Simelisizwe Sibanda, Dr Shava urged the graduates to adapt and embrace the changing education landscape by using technologies such as Artificial

Intelligence, digital learning platforms, virtual learning environments and data-driven educational tools to improve learning outcomes.

He said the graduates were entering the teaching profession at a critical stage in the country’s development, where educators were expected to go beyond traditional classroom instruction and become facilitators of innovation, critical thinking, creativity and lifelong learning.

“You are entering the teaching profession at a critical and exciting moment in our nation’s history.

The role of the teacher has evolved considerably in response to changing societal needs and technological advancement,” he said.

“Today’s educator is expected to facilitate learning, nurture innovation, inspire critical thinking, promote creativity, and cultivate lifelong learning.”

Commending the graduation theme: “Empowering Educators for a Transformative Zimbabwe through Heritage-Based Education 5.0”, Minister Shava said the graduates would play a central role in shaping Zimbabwe’s future through different education disciplines taught.

He, however, cautioned the graduates against allowing technology to undermine human values, saying technological advancement should be guided by Ubuntu/Unhu.

Dr Shava said the approach was central to Government’s Heritage-Based Education 5.0 thrust, which seeks to combine Zimbabwe’s indigenous knowledge, languages, traditions and values with innovation, research and technology.

“The Second Republic introduced Heritage-Based Education 5.0, which recognises that our languages, traditions, values and indigenous knowledge are strategic resources that can inspire innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development,” he said.

Dr Shava said the graduates had demonstrated this approach by gaining exposure to three indigenous languages beyond their mother tongue, describing the initiative as an embodiment of Zimbabwe’s unity in diversity.

The 661 graduates comprised 605 females and 56 males, representing approximately 91,5 percent females and 8,5 percent males.

UCE offers training in three categories: General, Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (ISEN).
Of the graduates, 424 were trained under the General category, 144 under ECD and 93 under ISEN.

Minister Shava commended the college for promoting inclusivity, noting that 19 students living with disabilities were enrolled across its programmes and four of them graduated yesterday.

He also praised the ECD Department for partnering with Bulawayo Polytechnic’s Engineering and Wood Technology Department to develop durable, market-ready learning toys using locally sourced Matabeleland timber.

The partnership, he said, demonstrated the importance of moving from identifying community problems to research, prototyping and ultimately producing marketable solutions.

Dr Shava said such initiatives were critical to Government’s Vision 2030.

Minister Shava also highlighted Government’s ‘Work for Fees’ programme, which is intended to assist needy but capable students to remain in tertiary education.

He said 30 UCE students were benefiting from the programme, describing the initiative as part of Government’s efforts to improve student retention and enrolment.

Dr Shava said the programme was also aligned with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s principle of leaving no one and no place behind.