Zou opens branch in Plumtree

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Open University (Zou) has opened a branch in Plumtree Town, the first tertiary institution to come to the border town. District administrative assistant for the new Zou branch Thembalani Ncube said the first intake was in progress and tutorials would commence in the border town once the process has been completed.

He said the branch would cater for students from Plumtree town as well as Bulilima and Mangwe Districts.

“We started enrolling at the end of July and for now the students are travelling to Bulawayo for their tutorials. This arrangement is, however, temporary as we are working on conducting tutorials from the border town,” said Ncube.

“Once the enrolment is satisfactory we will be introducing tutorials. For now the branch is providing prospective students with forms and registration services.”

Ncube said once fully established, the branch would be offering diploma, post graduate and under graduate programmes offered at other branches throughout the country.

He said students from Bulilima, Mangwe and Plumtree have been previously relying on their Gwanda branch, but this made it difficult for them as they had to travel long distances for tutorials, forcing some to drop out of the institution.

In a statement, Zou Matabeleland South Regional Director Allan Nkala said the opening of the new branch was part of the institution’s efforts to extend coverage to all districts in the province.

“This ground-breaking move involves the setting up of permanent district offices manned by full-time officers, thereby ensuring that Zou services are brought closer to the doorsteps of our many customers in those districts who have been commuting to Gwanda or Bulawayo in order to access university education,”

He said exam writing would still be done at the regional centre in Gwanda.

Mangwe MP, Cde Obedingwa Mguni said the move was long overdue.

“If there is one area which was in desperate need of a tertiary institution it is the one which covers Bulilima, Mangwe and Plumtree.

“At least now students will be motivated and feel the urge to pursue their studies knowing that they have a tertiary institution which is in their vicinity,” said the MP.

“Our children have been struggling to secure places in other universities because they cannot meet the set requirements but this will improve with the advent of an institution that caters for them.”

He said a number of students were dropping out of school and going to neighbouring countries.

Cde Mguni said this could be eliminated through investment in education and providing students with a variety of options such as tertiary, vocational and technical colleges.