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Samantha Chigogo Herald Correspondent
Government will continue supporting Danhiko Vocational Training Centre as it provides quality entrepreneurship programmes, especially for physically challenged students. Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Harare on Friday, Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development Deputy Minister Dr Godfrey Gandawa said promoting the unique institution was a necessity.

“My ministry will continue to support this organisation by availing the annual grant for the purchase of training equipment and consumables and also assist with appropriate technology as funds permit,” said Dr Gandawa.

“Science and technology in education is also emerging as a key priority area within the sector, recognising its role in human resource development in Zimbabwe and this futuristic plan, based on declared targets and indicators is an instrument to make the education sector policy operational.”

The graduation was held under the theme, “TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training): A new chance for entrepreneurial development and social transformation especially for persons with disabilities”.

Dr Gandawa said the project is designed to assist in reducing poverty.

“Over a period of three decades, the organisation has continued to uphold its noble mandate of delivering quality education through relevant industrial skills training programmes to the physically challenged, the socio economically disadvantaged and the society as a whole,” he said.

“TVET is the master key that can alleviate poverty, promote peace, conserve the environment, improve the quality of life for all and help achieve sustainable development.”

He said every year, a total of 50 students with challenges are equipped with technical skills in various industrial trades from the institution.

“The question of how to reduce unemployment, under-employment and also reduce the mismatch between skills and jobs, while simultaneously creating the new productive jobs and improving quality of life of the worker, are some of the core issues that concern our Ministry and should guide all TVET institutions,” Dr Gandawa said.

Danhiko College principal Mrs Elizabeth Dekune said self-sustenance for the disabled is a key driver in the success of vocational training at the institution.

“We have embraced STEM’s significance and success has been yielded with the institution recording above 95percent pass rate in the past five years,” she said.

“We continue churning competent graduates who are ready to contribute to the socio-economic transformation of their personal families and the nation at large.”

A total of 75 students (33 males and 42 females), graduated with skills in various industrial trades namely information communication technology, wood technology, clothing technology and electrical engineering.