Government pledges to support consortiums to establish schools
Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
THE government has challenged graduands to form consortiums to establish learning facilities to reduce the school’s shortage gap which stands at nearly 3 000 countrywide.
The Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Honourable Simelisizwe Sibanda was Guest of Gonour at the Mutare Teachers College 63rd graduation ceremony in Mutare this Friday.
The Deputy Minister stressed the need for tertiary institutions to be more aggressive in promoting industrialisation and said the government is ready to support consortiums that elevate graduates to be employers.
“We need an education system that answers our challenges. The education that does produce goods and services is dead. Let students and lecturers engage to start up projects. We need to unlock industries in line with the national vision. The government is ready to support you. You need to form consortiums as the government will fund you and this will close the schools shortage gaps. We will support you. We need the graduates to be employers. There is a shortage of 3000 schools and if students form consortiums those who run will be given 70% with the government taking 30%,” said Hon Sibanda.
Mutare Teachers College principal, Mr Abson Mutubuki spoke on the strides to improve the quality of education at the institution, a position supported by the University of Zimbabwe Pro Vice Chancellor, Ms Florence Mutambanengwe.
“Mutare Teachers College has transformed its curriculum to give teachers a competitive urge. We have introduced additional courses to ensure we have specialised teachers in various areas. We have established a publishing company with the idea being for staff to generate learning materials required in our education sector,” he said.
“Mutare Teachers College should make strides to promote industrialisation. The college human capital development policy should continue to promote curriculum shift to produce multi-skilled teachers with research being the cornerstone of your success,” said University of Zimbabwe Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Mutambanengwe.
A total of 532 students graduated at Mutare Teachers College, with 76.1 % of them being females.
Meanwhile, the government applauded the college for establishing a Baobab Juice Plant, urging the institution to vigorously market its products to command a fair share of the market.
