Nust extends registration deadline

THE National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has extended the deadline for registration for degree programmes in five of its six faculties.

The deadline, initially set as Friday last week, will be extended until the few remaining places are taken up.

In an interview yesterday, Nust's director of information and public relations, Mr Felix Moyo, said the deadline had been extended because some students who had been offered places had failed to take them up.

"There were about 1 800 places on offer in the faculties of Applied Science, Communication and Information Science, the Built Environment, Commerce and Industrial Technology. Only the Faculty of Medicine, which enrols differently is not affected," said Mr Moyo.

He said students who failed to take up offers would have to compete with those who applied but were not offered places on a first come first serve basis.

"Only those who applied will be considered for the limited places. The first to come and pay the required $200 deposit would get the place," he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Moyo revealed that the Nust School Enhancement Programme (NUSTSEP) for teaching Mathematics that was launched in 2010 had already started improving O-and A-level results in  Matabeleland.

Seven pupils from Binga High School in Matabeleland North, which is famous for poor results, were enrolled in the programme and they passed their O-level Mathematics.

"There were four As, two Bs and a C, proving that with improved teaching methods, anyone can pass the subject.

"The university does not enrol students who did not pass Mathematics at O-level. To improve chances of pupils from the region getting enrolled, the university launched a programme in which Nust lecturers work with teachers at schools to give pupils extra Mathematics lessons," he said.

Mr Moyo said of the nearly 120 pupils who were part of the programme at O-level in Bulawayo, 80 had passed the subject with flying colours, while 40 of the 80 who participated at A-level had gone on to be enrolled at Nust.

Mr Moyo said the university was still compiling the statistics for Matabeleland North and  South.

"We realised that pupils were failing the subject, not because it was difficult, but mainly due to external factors like poor infrastructure," he said.

Mr Moyo said Nust engaged stakeholders and came up with a programme whereby pupils in Bulawayo attended Mathematics lessons every Saturday, while those in Matabeleland North and South had two weeks of intensive learning every holiday.

"We realised that pupils were getting an average of 41 hours of the subject every term and we increased that to about 80 hours through the programme.

"Our lecturers work with teachers and train them to teach the subject in a manner that simplifies it for the pupils and makes it easier to pass," he said.

Mr Moyo urged parents to take an interest in their children's education and encouraged business around schools to sponsor education programmes.

"We all have a duty to uplift the region and the country academically. We have to complement Government's efforts in the provision of education.

"In Matabeleland North and South, mining, timber and safari companies should be actively involved in promoting education in the areas they operate in," he said.

The NUSTSEP programme has a 50/50 representaion of girls and boys.