Story by Tafara Chikumira
Over 500 students graduated at Gweru Polytechnic College this Thursday, with more than 50 percent being female as the institution addresses the issue of gender parity.
The number of female graduates confirms women are warming up to technical and industrial courses.
The desire to make a difference and contribute to national development was the driving force that propelled most of the graduates to embrace the Education 5.0 model being championed by the Second Republic.
“I am very happy to be part of this graduating team. I was doing industrial textile engineering. I see myself opening my own company and thereby employing people to take the fashion industry by storm. At the moment I am taking orders and doing some of the work in the comfort of my home,” said a graduate.
“I was doing machine engineering. I have started something small at home and I believe with more jobs I will certainly grow. The small orders are coming in and with time I should be able to come up with a huge industry,’ noted another.
The college has lined up an array of programmes to expand the Education 5.0 philosophy.
“I am very glad to announce that it has entered into a partnership with Vungu RDC who have availed land for us to establish an incubation hub. We are at an advanced stage in coming up with this centre where our students will come up with prototypes that will be developed into serious innovations to address societal challenges. We are also setting up a training centre in Mvuma as we seek to transform communities by equipping them with skills and deal with idleness,” said Gweru Polytechnic College Principal, Mr Washington Chandiwana.
The government is in full support of the initiatives being implemented by tertiary institutions with similar programmes in the pipeline as exaplined by Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Fanuel Tagwira.
“We want to have people with dignified life for all. We don’t want a situation where we say we have the most educated people but we can’t fix our roads. We are busy constructing our future. Zimbabwe is our future through which we are building brick upon brick. To you graduates, I implore you to channel your expertise into industries. We are creating the graduate development to shape the industrialisation and modernisation thrust in the country. If graduates start companies or training schools, we are willing to put seed money to ensure that other people can benefit from such centres as well,” he said.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Owen Ncube said, Zimbabwe is on an irreversible socio-economic resurgence trajectory, sustained by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s people-centric strategies.
“As we gravitate towards the attainment of an upper-middle-income economy earlier than 2030, our tertiary graduates are indeed a significant demographic dividend, strategically positioned to transform society through inclusive technical and vocational education. Visible and tangible products and services that address community needs must justify the certificates and awards our graduates will be receiving today,” he said.
The Heritage-based Education 5.0 model has since witnessed Gweru Polytechnic College partnering with current and former students to establish a registered company named Auto Savvy and General Solutions, a one-stop shop for automotive resolutions.
