Beverly Bizeki
Masvingo Teachers College is set to construct two schools, a Primary and Secondary school for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development’s model schools.
This was revealed in Masvingo City Council’s Health and housing minutes dated June 5, 2023 where council granted application for space by the college.
“Council has resolved that the application by MTC for space to construct two schools, a primary and secondary school and establish model practicing schools for its programmes (Primary and Secondary science teacher education) be granted,” reads part of the minutes.
The ministry is set to operationalize the education 5.0 philosophy which was introduced to ensure tertiary institutions .
“It was reported that the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education in its quest to operationalize the Education 5.0 philosophy has directed MTC to establish model practicing schools for its programmes and the ministry will fund the entire process,” read the minutes.
Masvingo Teachers’ College principal Benson Mutambudzi told TellZim News that the college will be facilitating construction of the two schools with funding from Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.
“The two schools will be a world class type of school for practicing to link theory and practice and will be run by our former students and the college itself,” said Mutambudzi.
He said location of the two schools is yet to be decided by the local authority.
“Whe we engaged the local authority, they gave us two possible site for the schools and they are yet to finalize and give us the site,” said Mtambudzi
The college is set to extend its pre-school which is located in Hay Robertson Street by constructing more classrooms and other essential facilities due to the overwhelming demand for places from Masvingo City residents.
Council resolved that the college builds and transfer the structures to council upon completion since they are renting the premises from council.
“Council has resolved that request by Masvingo Teachers College to extend the Council building on Stand Number 1047, Hay Robertson Street, Masvingo which they are leasing as a Pre-School be granted and that Council enters a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) agreement with Masvingo Teachers College on the proposed developments on Stand Number 1074 which they are leasing as a Pre School,” read the minutes.
On that note Mutambudzi said the college intends to make the pre-school big enough to accommodate more learners and to offer grade one and two facilities.
He said the pre-school will be the model pre-school for the whole of Masvingo Province.
Under the education 5.0 philosophy, the higher and tertiary education sector is expected to teach, research, community service, innovate and industrialise so as to ensure the country moves towards an innovation led and knowledge driven economy.
The education 5.0 model was adopted five years ago with the aim of empowering students with practical skills rather than theory only.
Previously, the education system in Zimbabwe was characterized as Higher and Tertiary Education 3.0 focusing on teaching, research and community service but the new model seeks to innovate and industrialise as the country is moving towards attainment of Vision 2030 to transform the country’s economy into an upper-middle income economy by 2030.
