Teachers colleges to become universities

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development has gone a gear up with plans to convert teachers colleges and polytechnics into universities.

On September 19, the ministry announced that two committees have been put in place to assess the feasibility of the proposal and report back before the end of November.

"Two committees have been put in place to provide a comprehensive policy advisory and consultancy service to the ministry," Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development permanent secretary Dr Machivenyika Mapuranga said on Monday.

"For teachers colleges, a foundation committee will look into the transformation of all teachers colleges into a university of education with Mkoba Teachers College as the main university campus with a special mandate on teacher education.

"For polytechnics, a steering committee will make recommendations into whether polytechnics can be turned into degree-awarding institutions or can be standalone or can be one institution with eight campuses and propose a process for the transformation," revealed the permanent secretary.

The seven-member steering committees for teachers' colleges and polytechnics are respectively headed by Prof Chipo Dyanda and Prof David Simbi.

Polytechnic colleges are already upgrading to degree-offering institutions over the past two years.

Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Prof Jonathan Moyo has given his blessing and hinted that the colleges were likely to start offering degrees by the beginning of the 2018 academic year.