The ManicaPost
Post Reporters
GOVERNMENT is set to expedite the establishment of a teachers’ college in each of the country’s 10 provinces.Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo said this during Marymount Teachers’ College’s 37th graduation ceremony last week.
He said in an endeavour to meet the SADC Region and continent at large’s demand of the teaching fraternity, Government would ensure that every province would be a proud host of a teachers’ college.
“There is a low enrollment of student teachers in local teachers’ colleges and universities. Currently, there is an annual intake of 9 024 student-teachers and teachers’ colleges need to come up with new strategies to increase the enrollment to meet national demand,” said Prof Moyo.
He said for the colleges to meet the national demand they had to respond to export opportunities in and beyond the SADC Region.
Said Prof Moyo: “As part of this effort, Government will expedite the implementation of ensuring that each of the country’s 10 provinces hosts at least one teachers’ college.
“The average annual intake is still too low and particularly in light of the additional 2 000 new schools that have been earmarked for construction across the country by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.”
He said the construction of the 2 000 new schools was one of the many expressions of the far reaching transformation that was taking place in the country’s education system.
Also addressing the same gathering, University of Zimbabwe’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Levi Nyagura, said UZ was committed to the development and upholding of the highest standards of teacher education.
Prof Nyagura also said it was the university’s expectations that all primary teachers be trained in Information and Communications Technology as there is need for primary school pupils to have Science knowledge in their early years.
“We expect all trainees in primary teachers’ colleges to have practical hands on ICT training before graduation, as well as effective knowledge of Biology, Physics and Chemistry.
“In future, we anticipate that primary school learners will be introduced to proper Science content to lay a strong foundation in STEM,” said Prof Nyagura.
The ceremony which was held under the theme: “Towards a STEM-driven economy through innovation and research based Primary Teacher Education” saw 540 graduates walking away with Diplomas in Education.
