News / Education
Presidential Scholarship Programme not political
22 Jan 2011 at 21:50hrs | Views
The Presidential Scholarship Programme is a non-partisan scheme that caters for all disadvantaged students in the country regardless of their political affiliation, a senior Government official has said.
The director of the programme Cde Chris Mushohwe who is also the Governor and Resident Minister of Manicaland Province told 150 students who left the country on Thursday to pursue degree programmes at South African universities that it was President Mugabe's wish to see all disadvantaged students benefiting from the programme.
"This is not a political programme. It does not matter which political party you and your parents are affiliated to. President Mugabe is the President of the whole country and it is his wish to see all children benefiting from this programme."
"Those who want to capitalise their political ambitions on this programme are misguided and they are against the uplifting of disadvantaged children in our society," he said.
In line with the country's indigenisation laws, Cde Mushohwe said, students should be educated to become masters of the economy.
He said the country should not continue to rely on foreign expertise to run industries and mines which were key to the development of the economy.
"The natural resources in the county are yours, after your studies you should come back and work for the development of your country without depending on foreigners," he said.
Cde Mushohwe urged the students to be exemplary and maintain the good record set by their predecessors.
He said Zimbabwean students who studied in South Africa under the Presidential Scholarship Scheme have always excelled with first class records.
Cde Mushohwe said the programme was a brainchild of President Mugabe and started in 1995 with 15 students at Fort Hare University.
He said the programme started at Fort Hare because that was where its patron President Mugabe did his first degree. However, the programme has now been extended to other South African universities.
Cde Mushouwe said since 1995, the number of students studying under the programme has increased.
"After we sent the first 15 student to Fort Hare, the following year they requested us to send more students saying our children were very disciplined and committed to their work. We later realised that there are some degree programmes that are not offered by Fort Hare and we decided to negotiate with other universities in South Africa. Right now we are sending our children to 16 universities," he said.
Last year more than 1 200 students benefited under the Presidential Scholarship Programme.
The director of the programme Cde Chris Mushohwe who is also the Governor and Resident Minister of Manicaland Province told 150 students who left the country on Thursday to pursue degree programmes at South African universities that it was President Mugabe's wish to see all disadvantaged students benefiting from the programme.
"This is not a political programme. It does not matter which political party you and your parents are affiliated to. President Mugabe is the President of the whole country and it is his wish to see all children benefiting from this programme."
"Those who want to capitalise their political ambitions on this programme are misguided and they are against the uplifting of disadvantaged children in our society," he said.
In line with the country's indigenisation laws, Cde Mushohwe said, students should be educated to become masters of the economy.
He said the country should not continue to rely on foreign expertise to run industries and mines which were key to the development of the economy.
"The natural resources in the county are yours, after your studies you should come back and work for the development of your country without depending on foreigners," he said.
He said Zimbabwean students who studied in South Africa under the Presidential Scholarship Scheme have always excelled with first class records.
Cde Mushohwe said the programme was a brainchild of President Mugabe and started in 1995 with 15 students at Fort Hare University.
He said the programme started at Fort Hare because that was where its patron President Mugabe did his first degree. However, the programme has now been extended to other South African universities.
Cde Mushouwe said since 1995, the number of students studying under the programme has increased.
"After we sent the first 15 student to Fort Hare, the following year they requested us to send more students saying our children were very disciplined and committed to their work. We later realised that there are some degree programmes that are not offered by Fort Hare and we decided to negotiate with other universities in South Africa. Right now we are sending our children to 16 universities," he said.
Last year more than 1 200 students benefited under the Presidential Scholarship Programme.
Source - Byo24NEWS
