Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE Second Republic’s Education 5.0 model presents life-changing experience for former students at Gweru Polytechnic College, who have managed to establish companies to address societal needs.
The adoption of the Education 5.0 model has witnessed former students at Gweru Polytechnic College registering three different companies, with the help of the institution, while the college has also established a clothing factory which employs graduates and offers practical learning skills to students on attachment.
Among the companies established by college graduates is Auto Savvy and General Solutions, which is a one-stop shop for mechanical and automotive solutions to vehicles, while some students have managed to produce an engine-drawn plough and a knapsack sprayer for smallholder farmers, among other innovations.
“I am very happy for the opportunity the institution has given us as a team to establish this company which is now our source of living. My family is now relying on me and I am glad I never had to look for work after finishing school as I am now an employer. Indeed this education 5.0 is real,” said the director of Auto Savvy and General Solutions, Mr Charles Gumbu.
Gweru Polytechnic student, Miss Mitchell Takachichicha said, “The skills we are getting here are indeed life-changing. I am now capable of producing products that I can sell to the market without a hustle. When we got introduced to education 5.0, we thought it was mere rhetoric but today we are indeed enjoying this curriculum which helps us to be hands-on.”
Government is impressed by the implementation of the Education 5.0 model, which dovetails with the country’s National Development Strategy 1.
“We are fully behind the leadership of His Excellency the President Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa as he leads the industrialisation program into the region and beyond. I am therefore impressed by the high level of innovation exhibited by Gweru Poly students and lecturers which resonates with the New Dispensation’s desire to produce entrepreneurs, job creators and graduates that support the national modernisation and industrialisation development trajectory, SADC industrialisation policy and Africa Agenda 2063,” said the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube.
The Education 5.0 model also feeds into the objectives of the SADC Industrialisation Week which is held annually with Zimbabwe scheduled to run the business indaba from July 28 to 2 August this year.
