ADDRESS BY THE GUEST OF HONOUR, THE MINISTER OF HIGHER AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT ON PROMOTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) THROUGH EDUCATION AND TRAINING HONOURABLE PROFESSOR JONATHAN MOYO (MP) AT BELVEDERE TECHNICAL TEACHERS COLLEGE 5 TH AUGUST 2016 1
SALUTATIONS Director of Ceremonies: Mr. P. Chinhoro; The Principal, Ms J. R. Mbofana; The Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan province, Hon. Miriam Chikukwa; The Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Prof. L. Nyagura; The Acting Deputy Director, Teacher Education, Mr R Gotora; Members of Parliament here present; DTE Coordinator for Belvedere Technical Teachers College; The College Advisory Council Chairperson and council members here present College Principals Senior Government Officials here present; Belvedere Technical Teachers College Staff and students; Distinguished guests; Parents, Guardians and Spouses of Graduands; Graduands Ladies and Gentlemen. 2
Good morning everyone. It is a pleasure for me to be part of the 31 st Graduation Ceremony at Belvedere Technical Teachers College. Your Theme of this year s Graduation: Promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics through Education and Training resonates well with the Ministry s policy thrust to promote STEM in higher and tertiary education institutions. For Zimbabwe to achieve its industrialisation and modernisation necessary for the country to train STEM skills that are capable of producing technological and engineering solutions to challenges and which exploit opportunities in our economy. Director of ceremonies, it is pleasing to note that a number of skilled persons have graduated from this fine institution over the years. Since its inception in 1982, Belvedere Technical Teachers College has produced 12,961 teachers. This number includes the 951 student teachers who are graduating today. In addition to 951 we also have 162 technicians graduating with a HEXCO qualification. 3
It is notable that out of the total of 12,961 graduate teachers from this college, 7,003 qualified in technical subjects while 5,958 did academic subjects. Zimbabwe currently has 13,000 vacancies for technical subject teachers. Today s graduating class of 951 has only 376 technical and vocational subject teachers. This leaves the vacancy for technical subject teachers at 12,624. The Ministry will play its part to enable Belvedere Teachers College to realise its mandate in the quest for Zimbabwe s industrialisation and modernisation. For Belvedere College to realise its objective of developing and training properly grounded techvoc teachers, the time has come for the college to review its mandate in order to align it with the policy of one state university, one teachers college, one polytechnic and one industrial training centre in each province. Each of these higher and tertiary education institutions are expected to specialise in well defined areas of excellence. 4
We expect colleges to refrain from dual systems of higher and tertiary education where polytechnic and teacher education programmes exist under one roof as is the case here at Belvedere Teachers College. We have observed that the management and responsibility structure of a dual system is problematic and unworkable. It is difficult to achieve equitable distribution of human, financial and material resources when institutions offering technical and teacher education are placed under one roof as is currently prevailing at Belvedere and J M Nkomo. The implications of doing away with dual tertiary education programmes are that colleges will enhance relevance and quality of graduates. Tertiary institutions like Belvedere will be adequately prepared to offer degrees in technical and vocational education in the new dispensation after the anticipated transformation into degree awarding status. In particular Belvedere will be able to rid itself of challenges of running two programmes under two different authorities with two different standards. This will have the following positive outcomes: 1) There will be a reduction in the duration of the programme from five years to four years. Currently students are enrolled for three 5
years on polytechnic programmes before they embark on the twoyear teacher diploma programmes. 2) The college will dispense with the headaches associated with administering two examination systems i.e., HEXCO and University of Zimbabwe. 3) Running examinations under one Board will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the teaching and learning activities. 4) Students on the direct entry scheme will indeed benefit from using equipment and machinery that is meant for technicians. In this regard, we expect Belvedere to redesign its curriculum for technical teacher education programmes in: Workshop Practice Curriculum Practice Pedagogics Teaching Practice Assessment scheme and Theory and design A related question to consider is what will happen to the direct entry candidate who will be prepared for the new secondary curriculum only 6
and who may not be competent to teach national foundation courses offered by HEXCO in schools. The new primary and secondary curriculum is designed to prepare students for life and work in a globalised and competitive environment. The new technical teacher education curriculum should therefore infuse industrial attachment as well as teaching practice. The curriculum should address specific competencies required for the graduate to articulate specific elements of his/her technical subject area. To you, I say go out there and perform your duties in the most professional and dedicated manner. Further educate yourselves, especially in appropriate fields. An informed practitioner is better equipped to execute his or her duties. Our world is changing fast and we need people to cope with new challenges in this global village. Congratulations! Makorokoto! Amhlophe. I thank you. 7