Govt moves to ease student accommodation challenges
INSTITUTIONS of higher learning and investor organisations should approach the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe for possible partnerships in education infrastructure investment, amid revelations that on-campus accommodation facilities at State universities can only accommodate 15 percent of total enrolled students.
In a joint statement released yesterday by Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Higher Education, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, Government was in full support of investment models that facilitate increased private sector participation.
“Urgent investment in student accommodation is more critical given the acute challenges faced by students who have no access to secure affordable accommodation, which is conducive for an enabling and effective learning environment,” said the ministers.
They said given the fact that only 15 percent of students could be accommodated on-campus at State universities, significant investment was required, not only for on-campus, but also for off-campus accommodation facilities.
The ministers said Government was supportive of investment models such as joint ventures, build-operate-transfer and build-own-operate-transfer in line with world trends in the education sector.
“Emerging trends on the continent and the world over are for the private sector to invest in student accommodation and other support facilities for financial return and social impact, while the tertiary institutions themselves focus on learning and complimentary activities,” said the ministers.
They pledged to accelerate any required approvals in line with such investments and urged involved institutions on the other hand to also speed up any necessary internal processes to ensure that such arrangements came to fruition.
The ministers said given the magnitude of investment required to bridge the current infrastructure gap in State institutions, partnerships would be underpinned by necessary Government approvals within the framework of the Joint Venture Act (Chapter 22:22), which is structured for a win-win situation.
“Government, through the respective ministries and departments will accelerate any required approvals to facilitate investments coming on board,” they said.
“Accordingly, the universities, tertiary and vocational colleges should also expedite the necessary internal processes to facilitate investments for the benefit of students and country.”
Apart from student accommodation, Government said significant investment was also required in the area of laboratories, lecture theatres and staff accommodation.
Over the years, Government, with assistance from its development partners, invested in establishment and development of learning institutions, resulting in the establishment of universities, colleges and vocational training centres in the country.
These institutions continued to grow in enrolment, but due to fiscal constraints, investment in learning, accommodation, sporting and other facilities were minimal.
This resulted in pressure on existing infrastructure, particularly.
IDBZ recently announced that it had raised $110 million for infrastructure development at institutions of higher learning.