Story by Aifheli Mudau
MORE than 500 students from United College of Education (UCE) have graduated with National Diplomas, with government rallying the graduates to form consortia and establish new schools.
The ceremony, which took place in Bulawayo this Friday, saw 463 females and 41 male students graduating.
“I majored in the Ndebele language so that I can teach pupils proper language. From here, as a new teacher, I am planning to push the heritage-based curriculum so that the children will be much empowered,” a graduating student said.
“I was doing food nutrition, so from here I am planning to empower even the community that I am going to be deployed to, so that they understand the benefits of eating traditional foods, another said.
The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development pledged maximum support to all graduates willing to start their own educational projects.
“We are moving with speed to support all graduates who are in consortium schools,” UCE’s principal, Kisto Kizito Chitsama stated.
“As the University of Zimbabwe, working together with UCE, our encouragement to these students is for them to embrace the environment they are going to be deployed to so that every learner can benefit from what they learnt here,” University of Zimbabwe’s Pro-Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs and Administration, Professor Attwell Mamvuto said.
“ As the government, we are encouraging all students that from here, they should come forward and get assistance from the government to start consortium schools, so that they can also employ others at the same time benefitting, and our education will grow,” Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Simelisizwe Sibanda weighed in.
This year’s graduation was held under the theme: “Accelerating the wheels of Excellence Through Heritage-Based Education”.
