Prosperity hinges on STEM
ZIMBABWE’S quest for a modern economy based on science and technology hinges on its capacity to use the expertise being amassed by students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programmes, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
Speaking to Zimbabwean tertiary education students in Kazan, Russia, on the sidelines of the ongoing Phygital Games of the Future Kazan 2024 during an interactive engagement the Vice President took time off his busy schedule to also deliver goodies from home and pocket money for the students’ upkeep.
The VP unpacked the country’s economic development blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), for the students and pointed to them how human capital expertise in science and technology was expected to come in handy and drive the attainment of an empowered upper-middle income economy by 2030 as envisioned by President Mnangagwa.
It was against this background that the Government had modelled and introduced Education 5.0 model in a bid to promote a human capital base that answered to the needs of the country’s economic development plans. Having students receiving their education in modern, sophisticated and enduring economies like Russia augured well for the country.
“I am, therefore, happy that you are all studying science related programmes, which dovetail with Government’s policy thrust to anchor its growth trajectory on science, innovation and technology development,” said VP Chiwenga.
“This is aimed at accelerating the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by 2030.
“Government expects you to play an active role in its giant step to build a science and technology-based economy. You are privileged to have had this opportunity to study in one of the first world countries. They have better learning facilities and a vast industrial base which you should strive to emulate back home.
“I have the confidence that the skills, attitudes and competences you are gaining will be cross-pollinated with local expertise to create employment for our people and leapfrog our developmental agenda. You may recall that, during colonial Rhodesia, most of our people went to school to get employed. The mindset should change,” he said.
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