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By Own Correspondent.

MUTARE, Zimbabwe. (News of The South)- Manicaland province, with highest average pass rates at Ordinary and Advanced level will soon have a university of applied sciences a government official has said.

Although the province boasts some of best performing schools, including St Faiths High, Marist Brothers, Bonda High, Kriste Mambo, Mutare Boys and Girls High, it only has one private university.

Manicaland also has the highest school per area ration with a secondary school within a 5 kilometer radius, numerous primary schools which total of over 1000. Although the privately run Africa University provides some relief it fails to absorb high numbers of successful school leavers which are forced to attend universities in other provinces.
This will be a thing of the past, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Cde Oppah Muchinguri told delegates at a Strategic Planning retreat recently.

She revealed that as part of her ministry’s strategic action plan towards realizing the national priority of an empowered human capital, government would introduce specialized research institutions.

Cde Muchinguri said this was dovetailed to a key national economic blueprint as well as the ruling party’s initiatives, which guide strategic direction and action of her ministry.

This will promote policies enhancing multi sector linkages of abundant human and natural resources with science and technology as key drivers for sustainable socio economic transformation, she added.

“The establishment of new universities and Tertiary Institutions that specialize in targeted sectors and research such as Gwanda State University of Agricultural Science and Technology, Manicaland University of Applied Science (and) Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences.

“Our Ministry should take charge in providing linkages between Zimbabwe’s abundant Human and Natural resources on one side, with the imperative of Science and Technology and Innovation as drivers from development on the other side using science and technology to fully exploit our human and natural resources,” she said.

Cde Muchinguri said as part of strategic action government will review policies to align them with the Nziramasanga Commission report by increasing access to education services as well as promoting technology and a culture of innovation.

“We need to align our policies with the recommendations in the Nziramasanga Commission report, by increasing access to Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Education, review and rationalization of existing institutions so that they are more focused,” she said.

Findings of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training led by Dr Cephus Nziramasanga recommended a paradigm shift in education delivery, training and infrastructure development.
The report, produced in 1998 and presented to the 48th session of the UNESCO International Conference on Education, focused on strides made in respective of government deliberate stance redress colonial imbalances by creating a sector with an inclusive approach as well as probe gaps in implementation. It proffered recommendations in acknowledgment of existing gaps.

Major recommendations of the commission include introduction of a nine year compulsory basic education (junior school) cycle for all pupils to cultivate habits, attitudes, interests, skills and entrepreneurial opportunities.

At senior school it recommended that, four interlinked programmes including general (academic) commercial or business, technical vocational, technical colleges and trade tests, be conducted at this level.

It also proposed for a comprehensive capitalization system to, revamp education infrastructure, facilitate electrification as a conduit to introduction of computers, enable community involvement and improved conditions of service.

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