Nambya, Tonga teachers graduate

By Rutendo Mapfumo

New Ziana- 162 graduates obtained their three-year diploma in Primary Education from Hwange College of Education, with most majoring in ChiNambya and ChiTonga languages.

This aligns with the government’s national language policy direction and the mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind,” which requires teachers to master at least three indigenous languages besides their mother tongue.

The teacher’s college has maintained a 100 percent pass rate from the graduating class. Out of the total class, 21 graduates received awards for excelling in various areas of study and community service. Additionally, the graduating class achieved a total of 54 distinctions.

Government is implementing Heritage-Based Education 5.0. Students from teacher’s colleges are establishing consortium schools and creating employment opportunities for other graduates through the government-supported Zimbabwe Graduate Employment Creation and Development Programme.

At last Thursday’s graduation, Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Ministry, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, emphasised the importance of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 in addressing community problems.

“Our education, through enabling innovation, science and technology development, is the processor that transforms our heritage to fulfill our human needs. We are busy constructing our prosperity. Zimbabwe is our future, and we will build it brick by brick through heritage-based education and development, Nyika inovakwa ne vene vayo, I lizwe liyakhiwa ngabanikazi balo.”

According to the Acting Principal of Hwange College of Education, Mr. Royal Ntinini, the graduation ceremony was held under the theme “Towards Vision 2030 through Education 5.0 in Teacher Education.”

“This theme articulates our understanding of the national aspirations as espoused in our blueprint, the National Development Strategy. As an institution, we are attentive to the role of education in driving the industrialisation process in Zimbabwe. We are tapping into our heritage to promote goods and services. Hwange and Binga are endowed with rich resources in the form of trees and fruits, which we have harvested and processed into products.”