News / Education
'STEM programme should not be subjected to turf warfare' - Jonathan Moyo
10 Feb 2016 at 11:01hrs | Views
Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Science Technology Development ministry has warned that the STEM programme "should not be subjected to turf warfare".
The ministry headed by Professor Jonathan Moyo on Wednesday issued a statement clearing out misconceptions amid reports that some ministries were disowning it.
On Tuesday, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Sylvia Utete-Masango said her ministry had nothing to do with the STEM being promoted by Moyo's ministry.
She said their promotion of Science technology and Mathematics would be done in line with the dictates of the new school curricula being spearheaded by her ministry.
"No, we do not have anything to do with that programme. They are the best people to talk about that.
"As a Ministry, we have the new curricula which is emphasising any area in education including STEAM from ECD up to Form Six. We are implementing and rolling the curriculum in stages. This year, we are piloting the syllabus and in 2017, we will start."
In a statement seen by Bulawayo24.com, Moyo's permanent secretary Machivenyika Mapuranga wrote " It should be noted that past "O" Level students do not automatically become "A" level students and to suggest that they are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education even before they have secured places is a misrepresentation of the status of these students, as some of them may opt for places on Polytechnic college, teachers colleges and other tertiary institutions.
"The Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Science Technology Development, remains guided by His Excellency the President's policy address to the nation which encourages STEM education and is considered to working with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in pursuing a worthy cause which benefits the nation at large.
"In fact, the ministry does not believe that the promotion of STEM in the nation is its sole prerogative, and would like to encourage and urge all those with the requisite commitment and capacity to do so.
"STEM should not be subjected to turf warfare but should remain a national agenda item as His Excellency The President wishes it to be.
"The nation is advised that the STEM campaign shall therefore run for its intended duration with qualified students benefiting in the form of fees and prizes" wrote Mapuranga.
The ministry headed by Professor Jonathan Moyo on Wednesday issued a statement clearing out misconceptions amid reports that some ministries were disowning it.
On Tuesday, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Sylvia Utete-Masango said her ministry had nothing to do with the STEM being promoted by Moyo's ministry.
She said their promotion of Science technology and Mathematics would be done in line with the dictates of the new school curricula being spearheaded by her ministry.
"No, we do not have anything to do with that programme. They are the best people to talk about that.
In a statement seen by Bulawayo24.com, Moyo's permanent secretary Machivenyika Mapuranga wrote " It should be noted that past "O" Level students do not automatically become "A" level students and to suggest that they are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education even before they have secured places is a misrepresentation of the status of these students, as some of them may opt for places on Polytechnic college, teachers colleges and other tertiary institutions.
"The Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Science Technology Development, remains guided by His Excellency the President's policy address to the nation which encourages STEM education and is considered to working with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in pursuing a worthy cause which benefits the nation at large.
"In fact, the ministry does not believe that the promotion of STEM in the nation is its sole prerogative, and would like to encourage and urge all those with the requisite commitment and capacity to do so.
"STEM should not be subjected to turf warfare but should remain a national agenda item as His Excellency The President wishes it to be.
"The nation is advised that the STEM campaign shall therefore run for its intended duration with qualified students benefiting in the form of fees and prizes" wrote Mapuranga.
Source - Byo24News
