Zimbabwe engages World Bank on education programme

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has started consultations with the World Bank on the African Centres of Excellence Programme to be established in East and Southern Africa.

The consultations will ensure that local universities keep in pace with labour market needs.

Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said sectors such as the extractive industries, information communication technology (ICT) and agriculture are booming and Africa needs local graduates with up-to-date skills and knowledge in these productive areas.

World Bank Education Specialist, Xianon Cao believes funding the expansion of higher education and raising the quality of tertiary programmes cannot be the sole responsibility of governments, since public funding is limited.

Tertiary education in Sub-Saharan Africa is under-developed and with the exception of a few in South Africa, universities in Africa do not feature in the top 500 in the world.

The African Centres of Excellence to be established in local and regional tertiary institutions are aimed at bridging these funding challenges.