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Vice President Joice Mujuru receives a portrait of Zimsec’s printing press as a token of appreciation from Vongai Gombakomba of Selborne Primary during an educational expo in Harare yesterday. Assisting the girl is Primary and Secondary Education Secretary Mrs Constance Chigwamba

Herald Reporter
Quality and reliable infrastructure in the education sector is critical in maintaining the high literacy rate Zimbabwe has attained in the past years, Vice President Joice Mujuru has said.
Officially opening the National School Infrastructure Expo and Conference in Harare yesterday, VP Mujuru said the country’s educational infrastructure needed to be upgraded and mordenised in line with global developments.

“Though we have not succeeded in everything everywhere, Zimbabwe has earned the world’s admiration for its educated, polite and hardworking professionals.

“This positive aspect of our success story, we must defend to the hilt and sustain for generations to come. The quality of education we have achieved so far should not be compromised but should be expanded by a well-planned infrastructure that is safe and conducive for learning,” she said.

The conference, that brought together educationists, development partners, building contractors and parents, was aimed at finding ways of supporting the existing infrastructure in schools as well as building new one.

VP Mujuru said the conference was “timeous” as it came when Government was implementing its economic blue print, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

“This is the right time to communicate the right message regarding what needs to be done in the education sector. I am elated to note that in showcasing their concepts, products and services, the exhibitors cover models from infant school facilities, specialist rooms, laboratories, teachers’ residences and other essential structures in schools. These are a set of facilities through which Government, in partnership with the private sector and our development partners, can effectively provide education to citizens.” she said.

VP Mujuru said Government was developing a win-win business module set to benefit schools and communities with quality infrastructure while development partners would benefit from investment opportunities.

“The initiative has the potential to boost and empower the construction industry, create investment opportunities for banking and other sectors at the same time creating the much needed employment and training opportunities for our people,” VP Mujuru said.
“This Expo and Conference also presents a unique opportunity to local insurance and pension funds and financial institutions to contribute towards the financing of the educational infrastructure as is the case world over. Development of the local financial and capital markets is one of the key deliverables of Zim Asset because it is through these institutions that we oil the economy.” She said Government should give its people education with an empowering function.

“We need an education that produces workers who acquire and develop useful knowledge, skills and attitudes that equip them to be entrepreneurs. As such, quality education is a major determinant of the destiny of our learners and indeed of the nation. We need to pay meticulous attention to the education system, monitor it and come up with interventions to address any slippages to make the system an invaluable investment for the future. I am happy the Ministry periodically undertakes research to ascertain the quality of education.”
She said the 1 554 satellite schools in the country’s resettlement areas needed standard infrastructure as they contribute immensely to the education sector. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora said the private sector played an important role in providing quality education.