The Sunday Mail
Harmony Agere
It has been a fairly successful year for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development as it registered a number of achievements, which include a 37 percent increase in the number of graduates in Zimbabwe’s institutions of higher learning.
This is despite the fact that the country is facing a number of financial challenges.
Public institutions, including those in the education sector, have endured a difficult year as the economy grew at a slower rate than anticipated.
Addressing delegates at the recent 15th Annual Zanu-PF National People’s Conference in Victoria Falls, Professor Jonathan Moyo, the Higher Education Minister, said the ministry had made a lot of progress.
Some of the achievements include the 100 percent completion of the curriculum review for Teacher Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to align with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“The ministry registered achievements in 2015 as follows: A 37,6 percent increase in the number of graduates from Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions,” said Prof Moyo.
“One hundred percent completion of curriculum review for Teacher Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to align with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) culture widely regarded as the stimulant for sustainable socio-economic transformation.”
The ministry also oversaw the 25 percent acquisition of training equipment for institutions in 2015.
In the same year, 100 percent inspections and registration of private institutions were successfully conducted countrywide.
The minister also disclosed that great strides in training teachers in various indigenous languages have been made while 151 scholarships to various countries have been processed.
The ministry made progress in projects that create employment such as the bio-diesel project which converts jatropha seed into fuel.
The oxygen and acetylene production project is now at test-run stage.
According to Prof Moyo, the tissue culture project by the National Biotechnology Authority of Zimbabwe, which produces virus-free seedlings for root and tuber crops, is now operational.
Prof Moyo also revealed that the establishment of additional bio-safety sub-offices for control of harmful products at Kazungula, Harare International Airport, Nyamapanda and Victoria Falls ports of entry and exit was complete.
Under the value addition and beneficiation cluster, the establishment of diamond cutting and polishing centre has been the main achievement.
The infrastructure development and utilities cluster has faced a lot of challenges but a number of achievements were registered.
In the same year, the ministry managed to construct critical structures at Lupane State University.
Infrastructure at Great Zimbabwe University’s Mashava Campus was upgraded, which is another key achievement.
Construction of the Harare Polytechnic Central library is also nearing completion.
The future looks bright as construction of student and staff accommodation and teaching and learning facilities at all institutions, financed through infrastructure bonds, has been approved.
Experts have applauded the ministry for the achievements despite facing many financial hardships caused by illegal sanctions and other economic challenges.
