Utilise new curriculum, pupils challenged

PUPILS should take advantage of the re-alignment of the schools curriculum to strengthen the country’s needsdriven education system, an Agribank official has said.

Officiating at a Schools Careers’ Day for secondary schools in Magunje last week, Agribank branch manager Mr Clayton Mudekwa, said the new curriculum affords school children a chance to determine their progression routes and future careers.

He said pupils should then change their mind set and pursue fields of study that suit their personal talents and capabilities.

“Career guidance practitioners must continue to direct youths so that they make informed decisions that do not result in skills mismatches on the labour market,” he said.

Mr Mudekwa said although Government efforts to close gaps in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields were underway, pupils should also consider being career all-rounders.

“Pupils must be empowered with relevant entrepreneurial skills critical for the wide range of sectors in the economy which go beyond formal education,” he said.

“It is good that students also undertake non-conventional fields, such as arts and culture, sport, tourism and many others where they take advantage of their personal talents and abilities.

“In this regard it becomes easier to link with the relevant intellectual, entrepreneurial and technical interests that respond to different competences of the individual.”

Mr Mudekwa urged school children to start investing in their capabilities to be masters of their destinies.

“It is also important for you to engage in self-employment initiatives so that you can later become employers,” he said.

The career guidance day was held under the theme: “Employment Creation for Social Transformation”.

The organisations that captured the attention of the pupils from more than 20 secondary schools were Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority, Gwanda University, Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU) and Musoromuchena Skills for Life from Makonde District.