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Prof Moyo

Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter
SOME polytechnics are in the process of reviewing their mandate with a view to offer degree programmes, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo, said yesterday. He said after engaging the polytechnics, it was decided to come up with a long term project with three phases to support the learning institutions through zimdef as a deliberate strategy of addressing the relationship between policy, research and industry.

Prof Moyo said he was happy that $9 million was set aside for this project. He said this while commissioning Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) equipment worth $2,3 million in Harare bought for polytechnics and vocational institutions through ZIMDEF.

The equipment would benefit 2 500 students.

“We have been engaging the polytechnics and getting to understand their mandate and how they are discharging their mandate and we are aware that all of them, all of the eight, there is one which is excluded today (yesterday), but all of them are in fact in a process of reviewing their mandate to become degree offering institutions.

“I hope this doesn’t sound or will not be a threat to the universities. “It is our assessment that the success of industry in any country depend on the programmes of polytechnics. “The maintenance and sustenance of any industry is a direct responsibility of our polytechnics,” Prof Moyo said.

He said the equipment was a reminder to the polytechnics of what their mandate was with respect to industry in general and automotive engineering in particular. Prof Moyo said the equipment that was commissioned yesterday was the first phase of retooling and building programme capacity for tertiary institutions.

The equipment will be distributed to Bulawayo, Harare, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Mutare and Joshua N. Mqabuko polytechnics. “Westgate Industrial Training Centre and Msasa Industrial Training Centre will also benefit from the equipment.

“You might want to ask why are we launching this initiative by ZIMDEF? I think the reason is a simple one. “We are launching this initiative in order to expose to the affected stakeholders and indeed to the communities that benefit from the work that is done in higher and tertiary education, to expose to them the good work that is done.

“Too often, especially when it comes to Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, a lot of good work goes unnoticed, unappreciated, unacknowledged and an impression is created that nothing is being done, that Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development is an exercise in pursuit of academic things,” Prof Moyo said.