‘Education ecosystems must be linked’
Speech by President Mnangagwa at the launch of the Book “Redefining Zimbabwe’s education system: ED Mnangagwa’s Vision and transformational leadership”
IT is my honour and privilege to have been invited to join this momentous occasion as we celebrate the launch of the book entitled “Redefining Zimbabwe’s Education System: E.D. Mnangagwa’s Transformational Leadership”.
The book, which has Heritage-Based Education 5.0 as its driving theme, underscores the value of harnessing our rich heritage as well as individual and collective talents, to accelerate the attainment of our national development aspirations.
The book is about us, our identity and what we are capable of achieving as a people.
The launch of this book is timely, coming at the backdrop of the theme of the just ended 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union, which is “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning in Africa”.
This underscores the centrality of education as a critical driver to propel Africa’s development, modernisation industrialisation and indeed prosperity.
A robust, relevant and responsive education system further facilitates the realisation of the potential of technology and innovation for economic growth, peace, equality and the eradication of poverty.
I commend the authors, researchers and educators who have dedicated their time and expertise to bringing this critical literal compilation to life. Your work will undoubtedly contribute to re-defining and reshaping the trajectory of our multi-pronged national development agenda. Congratulations, Makorokoto, Amhlophe.
Ladies and Gentlemen; Education and knowledge have always been the cornerstone of progress, a beacon of hope, and a sustainable pathway to a brighter-prosperous future, including in our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.
Since time immemorial, culture, heritage and education have been important threads which weave together the fabric of our identity, industrialisation and modernisation.
Equally, our heritage has never been a mere relic of the past; it is a living testament to our resilience, wisdom and shared values. Guided by the philosophy Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatirwa nevene vayo/ Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhulekelwe ngabanikazi balo, we have intricately interwoven our education and heritage to re-define and re-shape the future of our country.
Through the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 Model we have ushered in a new era of learning, innovation and creativity. This is further exhibited by the integration of our abundant natural resources and rich heritage, with the innovative tools and technologies to produce goods and services.
The publication also serves to elucidate and bring to the fore the confidence we must have in ourselves as Zimbabweans and as an African people.
Our education systems must embrace, safeguard and promote our heritage while integrating our heritage with science, innovation and technology
By reflecting on the Dzimbahwe and Mutapa civilisations, we are reminded that innovation and ingenuity have always been a part of who we are, as a people and the descendants of the great Munhumutapa.
Hence, under my Administration, the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 Model is not just an educational philosophy; it is a transformational and mind- shifting approach that empowers our people to appreciate their foundational roots, understand their place in the world, and envision a modern future.
This approach recognises that education is not just about acquiring knowledge, but about nurturing a deep sense of self-belief, innovativeness and pride in one’s country.
The philosophy is therefore a critical foundation upon which to build cutting-edge solutions to address the pressing development challenges as well as harness the immense opportunities of our time.
To this end, climate change, shifts in the global order and fast changing technological advancements along with the mutating social and moral beliefs entail that we shift paradigms with regards our development discourse, more so in the global south and Africa in particular.
Our education systems must embrace, safeguard and promote our heritage while integrating our heritage with science, innovation and technology.
This philosophy will guarantee that our young generation and communities have a strong and solid foundation upon which to build. We have an onerous duty to ensure that our young people are equipped to face the future with confidence, creativity, resilience and adaptation capacities.
I, thus, challenge our communities and stakeholders in the education system from primary level right up to tertiary education to be deliberate and bold in the manner we nurture and entrench the principles espoused under the Heritage Based Education 5.0. Model.
Ecosystems must be developed to cultivate educational environments that celebrate diversity, embrace history and foster critical thinking.
We must break down the temptation of reverting to the old and known methods and beliefs. I, urge, researchers, scholars, educators and institutions to develop a new body of knowledge.
New techniques must be implemented to reflect our unique national character and realities. Knowledge can never be universalised or attributed to a singular, abstract narrative.
As such, scholarly work, across all fields of study must be rooted in African methods of enquiry, analysis and discussion, while advancing our world views and perspectives.
Let us be proud of who we are as an African people and our African-rooted literal works should be a tool to encourage our young people to be critical thinkers.
They should also be capacitated to engage with communities and advance the public good, national interests as well as overarching development objectives of our respective countries.
Our education systems and methods of instruction must ultimately produce learners and graduates fit to take up daily challenges across the socio-economic spectrum.
For example, Zimbabwe is blessed with abundant natural resources; we are largely an agriculture and mining society. This bias must be reflective in the type of education we offer. We must see our institutions equipping our young people to accelerate the modernisation and value chain development of these sectors.
However, we are not an island, hence it is critical important that we remain cognisant of the opportunities and expanded scope brought about by the 4th Industrial Revolution. Our young people must be equipped to leverage on Artificial Intelligence, to propel our national development.
Ladies and Gentlemen; For the Heritage Based Education 5.0 Model to remain entrenched in our education system, there must be seamless linkages between the primary and secondary ecosystems and those of our institutions of higher learning.
I, therefore, challenge Ministries, Departments and Agencies responsible for education and stakeholders across the board, to work with greater collaboration and synergies. You must be complementary in your approaches.
In conclusion, let us all embark on this journey of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 with a sustained unity of purpose and determination.
We must seize every opportunity to re-define our future, empower the youth and women as well as safeguard the invaluable gains brought about by the education sector and largely our independence, freedom and sovereignty.
Together let us look forward as we build a brighter future that is anchored on our rich heritage, the use of African knowledge systems and experiences leveraging on the advantages of science, technology and innovation.
With these remarks, it is now my singular honour and privilege to declare, the book entitled “Redefining Zimbabwe’s Education System: E.D. Mnangagwa’s Vision and Transformational Leadership” officially launched.
May our Heritage-Based Education 5.0 philosophy continue to guide and inform the development and prosperous path that lies ahead for our great Motherland, Zimbabwe.
God bless you.
God Bless Zimbabwe.
I thank you.