Graduates urged to start own schools

HIGHER and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister, Professor Amon Murwira, has encouraged teachers’ college graduates to form consortiums that will help address the shortage of 3 000 schools in the country.

Speaking during Mutare Teachers’ College 63rd graduation ceremony last Friday, where he was represented by his deputy, Honourable Simelizezwe Sibanda, Minister Murwira said by forming consortiums, the graduates can pool their resources, skills and expertise and establish new schools that can offer quality education to learners.

He said to help bridge the 3 000 schools gap nationwide, graduates have to come together and work with their colleges.

“Government is challenging students to form consortiums because as a country we have a shortfall of about 3 000 schools. It is only us who can close that gap. What the graduates need to do is to approach their former colleges with their idea, the colleges will assist them with coming up with the relevant paperwork that will help them to get infrastructure. The group of students will be responsible for the management and running of that particular new school,” he said.

Minister Murwira said profits earned from the schools will be shared on a 70 to 30 percent ratio, with the biggest chunk going to the consortiums.

“If we fail to form these consortiums, we would have failed as a nation. This is a challenge that Government is throwing to you as graduates,” he said.

Minister Murwira said this is being made possible through the Zimbabwe Graduate Employment Creation and Development Programme, which is a key driver for higher and tertiary institutions to unlock industries, businesses and opportunities within the national economy.

“To this end, teachers’ colleges are expected to coordinate the formation of graduate consortia to establish schools and initiate industrial businesses along the education value chain. Our role as Government is to provide a conducive framework and funding,” he said.

He said in line with Government’s expectations, Mutare Teachers’ College is worth commending for running a notable number of education start-ups.

He, however, urged the institution to scale-up on the formation of graduate consortia business start-ups.

Minister Murwira also said Government is committed to support such initiatives and provide incentives for graduates who take up the challenge.

He urged the graduates to seize the opportunity and contribute to the development of the education sector and the nation at large.

“The ministry is moving towards this direction because we are running away from such a situation where we were using the Education 3.0 and producing graduates who were ready to be employed. Now the idea is for the graduate to be the employer.

“I challenge you to add value, so that we do not, only produce graduates that are merely carrying papers, but graduates that are hands-on on issues that add value to the communities. Our end, in mind is the production of services that satisfy the needs of our people. Once we do that, it will lead to prosperity,” he said.

Minister Murwira said his ministry foresees an education system that answers its community’s challenges through Education 5.0.

“An education that does not address the challenges that the community has is useless. We need a system that answers our challenges, that is the thrust of Education 5.0 and as we speak, one of the challenges that we are facing is that of schools shortages in the country, and we need that gap covered,” he said.

He also said the education system will contribute towards the industrialisation and modernisation of the country through heritage correct attitudes, knowledge, values and skills to attain Vision 2030 of an upper middle income economy.

The ceremony saw 532 graduating and being conferred with teaching diplomas.

At least 76 percent of the graduates were females.