https://www.herald.co.zw/cabinet-approves-teaching-bill/#:~:text=Cabinet%20has%20approved%20the%20principles,the%20dignity%20of%20the%20profession.

May 31, 2023

Approved the Teaching Professional Council Bill

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education conducted a workshop in RedCliff.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education conducted a workshop in RedCliff in order to update Internal stakeholders on the review of the Competence based Curriculum. 

establishment of the Baobab Juice Plant at Mutare Teachers College.

The governmet established the Baobab Juice Plant at Mutare Teachers College in Manicaland Province.

Lupane State University Bingwa Wildlife and Ecotourism Innovation Park

A Lupane State University Bingwa Wildlife and Ecotourism Innovation Park is under establishment. 

Principles of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Amendment) Bill.

Cabinet considered and approved the Principles of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Amendment) Bill. Numerous developments have occurred in the education sector as well as anomalies that have come to the attention of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education which require amendment of the Act.

National Early Learning Policy approved.

The Cabinet of Zimbabwe approved the Zimbabwe National Early Learning Policy. which seeks to strengthen and harmonise the implementation of infant education. 

The policy will be implemented over a five-year period spanning 2023 to 2027. 

he Midlands State University Language Institute has been commissioned.

The Midlands State University Language Institute has been commissioned at the main Campus in Gweru. Significant strides have been made in the country by successfully coordinating the translation of the National Constitution into all fifteen (15) local languages including Sign Language.

The Institute has also established partnerships with the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the Parliament of Zimbabwe

Five agro-Industrial parks setup in five state universities.

The government setup Agro-Industrial Parks in five state Universities. 

The government transforms the inherited Education system, Education 3.0 to heritage based 5.0.

The government transforms the inherited Education system, Education 3.0 to heritage based 5.0.

The five in the tittle of the new model comes from its five component:
Teaching Research 
Community Service 
Innovation and Industrialisation  

Free Education pilot project starts in 16 rural districts.

The government started rolling out a Pilot Project on State funded education in 16 Rural Districts across the country and the programme is being implemented in Primary Schools only. 

In Matebeleland South the programme is being implemented in Mangwe and Beitbridge district.
and in Matebeleland North, Lupane and Binga district. 

1045 Institutions across the country have been connected to the internet.

1045 Institutions across the country have been connected to the internet and the initiative is covering all 10 Provinces.
 
914 schools, 105 Health Institutions and 26 Vocational Trainings were connected. 

Recruitment for teachers underway

Teachers are being recruited to be deployed in 28 largely rural districts to improve delivery of quality education with special focus on infant educationv

5 Projects underway in the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education presented progress on the following projects to the cabinet:
-The construction of the Midlands State University Law School complex in Kwekwe has reached 90% completion.;
 -The Gwanda State University Mining Innovation and Laboratories  Complex has reached 90% completion;
 -Block B of the proposed three-wing Student Service Centre at the National University of Science and Technology has been completed;
 -The refurbishment of the factory shell to house the National Number Plate Programme at the University of Zimbabwe has reached 90%  completion,
-The establishment of the Baobab Juice Plant at Mutare Teachers College has reached 85% of completion, with the superstructure having been completed and the production plant installed.
 

Launch of the Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and Innovation Agro-Industrial Park

Launch of the Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and Innovation Agro-Industrial Park

Cabinet approved an MOU between the RSA and Zimbabwe

 Cabinet approved an MOU between the RSA and Zimbabwe
in the Field of Basic Education. Besides exchanging experts and academics in primary and secondary education, the two countries will upon mutual requests exchange teachers and learners in each other’s schools

Infrastructure Development

Buildings under the Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions Civil and Construction Engineering Infrastructure programme are at various levels of completion as follows: • construction of the Bindura University Female Hostel is at 75%, • the Simon Mazorodze School of Health Building is at 70%, and • the J.M. Nkomo Polytechnic Home Economics Building is at 75%. The Commercial Herringbone 24 Point Milking equipment was procured, delivered and assembled at the Chinhoyi University of Technology Industrial Park, and now awaits commissioning.

Innovation Hubs

Eight Innovation Hubs, one Science Park and four Industrial Parks were established during the first half of 2021.

UZ Agro-Industrial park

The University of ZImbabwe converted part of its farm land into an industrial park that will expose students to industrial experience during their studies in line with Government's Education 5.0 policy.

National e-learning strategy

Cabinet considered and approved the National e-Learning Strategy for Schools in Zimbabwe: 2021 – 2025

Launch of a Rebranded Management Training Bureau

The Ministry of Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development has strategically repositioned one of its agencies, the Management Training Bureau (MTB) as a National Strategic Institution in the provision of national capabilities in critical skills shortage areas

President stresses need to support innovation

President Mnangagwa commissioned the technology innovation hub at the Harare Institute of Technology (HIT).

20 000 new teachers to start work

 15 000 to 20 000 qualified but unemployed teachers are being recruited by the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry in line with a directive from President Mnangagwa, with 5 300 already in place, enabling schools to run smaller classes and minimise the risk of a spike in Covid-19 infections.

Centre for Innovation Bill gazetted

The Centre for Education, Innovation Research and Development that is expected to transform the country’s education so that it leads growth of industry and job creation, will be established once a Bill gazetted for its creation is passed into law. The Centre for Education, Innovation Research and Development Bill will provide administrative framework for the promotion of innovation and industrialisation. According to the Bill, the functions of the Centre include providing support to the development and demonstration of technology-based products, processes and services and create techno-jobs across the economy for graduates from all institutions of higher learning.

Receiving 10 million Euros support from the Government of Germany towards the second phase of the Education Development Fund (EDF)

The German Government, through its development bank, KfW, has contributed €10 million to the second phase of the Education Development Fund (EDF) to improve access to quality education for Zimbabwe’s children

Deffering of State Universities First Year Students Intake to August 2020 to enable integration of a new curriculum

Harare – State universities will not be taking first year students in February 2020 after deferring enrolment to August 2020 while they work to integrate a new curriculum.

Overhaul of Grade 7 Examinations

Grade Seven pupils will from 2021 be examined in six final subjects as part of an education curriculum review being implemented by Government to mould a generation equipped with modern societal skills.

An additional examinable Physical Education and Arts subject, which comprises visual and performing arts, physical education, mass displays and sport has been introduced.

While all other papers will have multiple choice (Paper 1) and structured questions (Paper 2), the Physical Education and Arts examination will only constitute a multiple choice section.

Finalisation of the Tertiary Institutions Fee Structure

Government has finalised tuition fees for universities and colleges and students will now be paying between $3,500 and $5,000 per semester while those in colleges will be required to pay between $500 and $1,500 depending on programme.

Those studying Medicine will now be required to pay $5,000 in tuition fees while those taking programmes in Sciences, Engineering and Technology will pay $4,000.

Students studying programmes in Arts and Humanities will part away with $3,500 per semester.

Commissioning of a US$5 million ZimSec printing press

Governemnt has commissioned a US$5 million Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) printing press, a development that will improve the security of examination papers and save the parastatal millions of dollars in printing costs. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima commissioned the printing press. In an interview, Prof Mavima said the printing press will stop examination leakages which costs the nation millions of dollars.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has recruited about 1,300 teachers

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has recruited about 1,300 teachers, the majority of them being deployed to Matabeleland North Province. This follows complaints that individual teachers are manning classes with as many as 165 pupils after the Public Service Commission froze the recruitment of teachers and other professionals in 2014. In an advertisement, the ministry published the full list of teachers that have been engaged.

University of Zimbabwe Zim Agro- Industrial Park

Cabinet notes with satisfaction, huge strides made under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. The construction of the University of Zimbabwe Zim Agro- Industrial Park, the superstructure is now almost complete while the Chinhoyi Agro-Industrial Park Dairy and Milk Processing Unit is 80% complete. The construction of a model milking parlour for small holder farmers is complete. The establishment of a Goat Genetics Research Centre at Bindura University of Science Education continues, while the establishment of the Simon Mazorodze School of Health Sciences at the Great Zimbabwe University is at 85% complete.  The Multi-Purpose Teaching and Learning Building at the Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences was completed. Furthermore, 12 out of the 20 Universities were provided with internet services under the E-Learning Facility for Higher and Tertiary Education Institutions.