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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
A senior educationist in Matabeleland South Province has challenged Government to allocate more resources towards innovation and entrepreneurship to promote national economic and infrastructural development.

Speaking during the official opening of a pure science laboratory at Zezani High School in Beitbridge West constituency on Friday last week, Dr Ngoni Moyo, who is the principal at Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Polytechnic, said it was important for children and communities to embrace the teaching of STEM subjects in schools.

She said increased support towards innovation would go a long way in accelerating Sadc and Government’s industrialisation thrust.

“We need to do something as a nation to promote the implementation of our Strategic Development Goals,” said Dr Moyo.

“In this realm of education, science, technology and engineering should be used to develop our respective places and country as we move towards industrialisation locally and regionally.

“We hope that the introduction of STEM will be a panacea to our problems and in assisting the country to get graduates who create employment for themselves and others, especially the youths. The idea is to boost our human capital and dwell more on innovation and entrepreneurship and improve self-sustenance.

“As indicated by our minister (Prof Amon Murwira), any education that does not produce goods and services is useless. We must show the value of our education by producing something, by resuscitating industry, being productive, and introducing technology leading

Dr Moyo said it was important for more resources to be channelled towards the development of education to produce a good human resources base and push economic growth.

“We must work towards producing graduates who will lead us to achieving Vision 2030, as the foundation has been laid by President Mnangagwa for the country to attain an upper middle class economy.

“This will start from science laboratories like the one we are opening here today though we need to back that by promoting innovation,” she said.

She said it was also important for parents to take their children to school to lay a better foundation for their future.

She also challenged the girl child to take up STEM subjects rather than view them as a male domain. According to Dr Moyo, it was also important to promote heritage-based education to steer community development initiatives.