The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube : Post Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has hailed Hilbright Science College’s bias in Science education and its dedicated efforts to pioneer the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education at secondary school level while empowering the girl-child.
Speaking at the fifth edition of the college’s annual speech and prize giving day ceremony held at a local hotel last Friday, the guest of honour and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Dr Desire Sibanda, said the college’s thrust in Science dovetails perfectly with one of the national economic blue-print, Zim-Asset’s cluster, which is to provide a conducive environment for the establishment of a sustainable technologically-driven society.
“Your special bias in Science education, resolve to empower the girl-child through Science education, pioneering work in STEM education at secondary school level, visionary role in promoting Science education through your arm, National Science Education Development Trust and your sheer commitment to excellence in providing tuition services to the nation stands out clearly as a beacon in the progression of science education in our beloved country Zimbabwe,” he said.
National Science Education Development Trust (NaSEDT) intends to promote the uptake of Science subjects at all levels by providing access to Science facilities and equipment needed for the teaching and learning of science.
The college, which boasts of being the largest Science college in Zimbabwe, has an enrolment policy of 55 percent females and 45 percent males.
“The college’s use of gender-sensitive instructional methods to demystify the learning of science to girls is encouraging. This is very much in line with our national gender policy. Indeed the school’s gender-sensitive pedagogy is a major boost for women empowerment through science education.
“Your gender focus is also in line with the thrust of the Millennium Development Goals which we implemented from year 2000 to 2015. You may be aware that in relation to MDG Three, which is to promote gender equality and empower women, our country made considerable progress in promoting gender equality in relation to education at all levels,” added Dr Sibanda.
The college has made magnificent strides of success and excellence over the years. It has tremendously brought a new wave of honesty and transparency and hard work into the modern colleges. Through academic excellence and great emphasis on spiritual morality, it stands at the crest of science education in Zimbabwe.
Among other initiatives, the college launched an organisation known as National Science Education Development Trust (NaSEDT) which is aimed at improving science education in the country through a plethora of initiatives such as setting up science centres consisting of well-equipped physics, chemistry and biology laboratories in convenient places around urban schools where students from both private and government schools can converge and do practicals after school and during weekends at nominal charges.
“At Hilbright, by excelling in Science subjects, girls have proved that they can do as well as boys given equal opportunities. At Hilbright we believe that education is life and that when students enjoy the learning environment, the learning process is enjoyable as well,” reads part of a statement on the college’s official website.
The college aims at establishing unique science education and research centres in Zimbabwe, the SADC region and Africa as well as producing God-fearing, innovative scientists with both skill and morals.
Manicaland provincial education director Mr Edward Shumba; Mutare district education officer Mr Nathaniel Machini; Zimbabwe School Examinations Council regional examinations manager Mr Robert Takundwa; Hilbright Science College chief servant, Mr Pardon Mugari, the college’s administrator Mr Beau Machingambi were part of the invited guests.
