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Prof Moyo

Ivan Zhakata Herald Reporter
Government has urged polytechnics to re-orient and produce more graduates with a bias towards science, technology, engineering and mathematical fields in line with their original mandate. Speaking during the Harare Polytechnic graduation ceremony where 2 469 graduands received diplomas, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Professor Jonathan Moyo said the skills were in short supply at a time they were needed most.

He said more needed to be done in fulfilling the polytechnics’ mandate. “It is gratifying to note that the quality of graduates has remained competitive and most sought after by commerce and industry locally, regionally and internationally.

“After many years of serving the interests of the minority settler regime between 1919 and 1980, Harare Polytechnic has contributed immensely to the success of the post-independence industrial requirements through the production of world class techno artisans who have been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s industry.

“On the academic front, I am told that since its inception in 1919, Harare Polytechnic has produced a total of 72 212 graduates of whom 31 895 were in the engineering discipline, 4 149 in Applied Sciences with 36 168 in Commerce and other disciplines.

“This means that 36 044 students representing 50 percent of the 72 212 graduates have been produced in the Harare Polytechnic’s area of core mandate. “This leaves 20 percent to be desired because the college’s area of mandate should produce at least 70 percent of the graduates.

“I am also told that the total number of today’s graduands is 2 469 consisting of 915 in Engineering, 302 in Applied Sciences and 1 252 in other disciplines and this number of ‘other disciplines’ which is above 50 percent is rather too high,” Prof Moyo said.

Speaking at the same event, Harare Polytechnic principal Engineer Tafadzwa Mudondo said the institution’s leadership is seized with a vision of creating a world class institution which furthers STEM objectives.

“The institutional leadership has to refocus, redirect, remould, redeploy and develop the much needed impetus to address and respond to our key mandate of producing properly grounded and STEMatised graduates commencing 2017 as per the Ministry and Government’s thrust,” he said.