Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
THE bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Rwanda have received a significant boost with the deployment of the second batch of Zimbabwean teachers under the ongoing teacher exchange programme. The educators have now been posted to various learning institutions across Rwanda, following induction and integration into the country’s education system.
Teachers from Hwange, Masvingo, Bulawayo, and Gokwe expressed enthusiasm as they prepared to take up their new roles.
“Being selected for this programme is a big step for my career. I am heading to the Northern Province, and I hope to make a meaningful impact on learners there,” said maths teacher Manners Muchido.
“I stayed at Gifford for 10 years, and the main push factor to join the programme here in Rwanda was to explore new experiences, the teaching methods that I have acquired from our new curriculum in Zimbabwe and also to implement them here,” Tapiwa Machirori stated.
“I was inspired to join this programme to gain international experience, share what I know and gain knowledge from the Rwandan education system, so that when I decide to go home, I will have a broad experience,” former Hwange High School teacher, Lillian Ndlovu noted.
“I was deployed to Muramba Secondary, and I am going to teach Maths there. I was working at Marymount teachers’ colleges as a maths lecturer, and when I saw the advert, I decided to apply so that I could grow my career,” maths teacher, Titus Chiremba added.
Government says the programme will equip participating educators with valuable international experience while enhancing Zimbabwe’s human capital footprint.
“We are so excited that the world, Africa in fact, is seeing the competence in our human capital base and equally important our human capital is gaining some confidence in operating beyond Zimbabwe boarders and this is a positive mark,” Director for Tertiary Education Programmes in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Darlington Damba stated.
Zimbabwe’s Top Envoy to Rwanda, Ambassador Charity Manyeruke, says the programme reflects the growing relations between the two countries.
“This programme really shows the excellent relations that exist between the governments of Zimbabwe and Rwanda. These relations are really being deepened, starting with our own Presidents, the two great Presidents, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa and Paul Kagame. It was through their wisdom that they started this by opening embassies in Harare and Kigali, and relations are flourishing, with more than 30 MOUs signed in various sectors such as energy, agriculture, and human capital development,” she added.
The teacher exchange programme continues to attract strong interest, with more than 1 000 applications received for the 143 available posts, as plans are already underway to deploy a third batch of educators under the existing bilateral agreement.
