adminFarirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE has been selected to host the first Southern Africa Regional Office for the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation early next year. Higher and Tertiary Education and Science and Technology Development Minister Olivia Muchena who is attending the 37th Unesco General Assembly in Paris, France confirmed the development yesterday.
“This morning the Director General of Unesco Mrs Irina Bokova was re-elected for a new four year term and it is good news for us because we have worked closely with her and her team,” said Minister Muchena.
“She will be coming to Zimbabwe next year to open the Southern Africa Regional Office in Zimbabwe. We met today to discuss how the office will promote education and culture in the region, it is a big plus on our side.”
The Minister said they also emphasised the need to promote science education.
“We also emphasised the need to prioritise science education because Zimbabwe like a number of countries has observed that there are fewer people taking up science and engineering. We also want to increase the number of women taking up science subjects,” she said.
Minister Muchena added that they had discussed ways to use culture as source of employment.
“We talked about how culture can be used to create jobs and income and promote cultural heritage and values. It is Unesco’s desire that culture be integrated into schools curriculuma.”
The minister said countries like Japan had managed to use their culture to make advances in the fields of science and technology to become a global powerhouse it is today.
Minister Muchena is expected back in Zimbabwe tomorrow.
Online Reporter