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Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo (second from right), his deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa; Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere and other senior Government and zanu-pf officials pose with pupils at the STEM prize handover ceremony at St Francis and St Clare High School in Guruve yesterday. — Picture by Brian Tomo

Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
The Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZimDef) has disbursed over $4,4 million towards payment of school fees for students who enrolled for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) this year.

STEM is President Mugabe’s vision, which is aimed at equipping learners with knowledge and values that guarantee economic growth and increase opportunities for employment creation; well rounded citizens who are relevant nationally and competitive globally.

Speaking at the STEM prize handover ceremony at St Francis and St Clare High School in Guruve yesterday where the school received a cash prize of $100 000, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo said, over 5 000 students enrolled for Advanced Level STEM initiative in 2016.

“So far, $4 475 008 has been disbursed by ZimDef to 265 schools. ZimDef is still settling some bills from schools. The total number of students benefiting from 2016 A Level STEM initiative is 5 132 drawn from 265 schools across the country.

“In Mashonaland Central, 262 students enrolled for Lower Sixth from 16 schools and Zimdef has disbursed $232 736,” he said.

St Francis and St Clare High School has 17 students enrolled for STEM and the school received $5 950.

Officiating at the ceremony, Local Government and Public Works Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere, said it was evident that rolling out of the 2016 STEM initiative prepared the O Level graduates for entry into university education.

The provision of university education to O Level graduates is one of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development’s mandate.

“ZimDef has been mandated by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development to mobilise and deploy the financial resources to fund the STEM initiative in terms of the Manpower Planning and Development Act.

“Thus stemitising A Level students is a sure strategy to guarantee the nation of future graduates empowered to industrialise the economy,” he said.

Minister Kasukuwere said Government took the STEM prizes as an incentive for the uptake of STEM subjects by students and would continue supporting them in their career paths at the country’s higher and tertiary education institutions.

A STEM draw to pick up winners for the prizes from 10 provinces was done in Bulawayo in April.

“The 2016 A Level STEM initiative was well received across the country with an enrolment of 5 312, which exceeded the initial target of 2 500 students taking up mathematics, physics, biology and or Chemistry at A Level.

“A total of 3 139 students enrolled to study the combination of mathematics, physics and chemistry, while 1 746 enrolled to study mathematics, biology and chemistry, 96 enrolled for maths, physics and biology, while 151 enrolled for maths, physics, biology and chemistry,” he said.

He said STEM was a critical component of the future economic development for any country.

Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Prof Paul Mavima said STEM was a noble initiative that would assist students who had been facing challenges in paying fees.

He said his ministry was in full support of the initiative and wished the cash prize of $100 000 could be availed to all provinces to equip schools.

The function was attended by Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Advocate Martin Dinha, senior Government officials, representatives of various universities, principals from polytechnics and teachers colleges, school children from different schools in Mashonaland Central and parents among others.