News / National
23 colleges, polytechnics to offer degrees
08 Jul 2017 at 08:25hrs | Views
CONSULTATIONS on proposals to turn 23 teachers' colleges and polytechnics into degree awarding institutions have been completed, Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has said.
Two committees were set up to transform the institutions; one for teachers' colleges and another one for polytechnics respectively headed by Prof Chipo Dyanda and Prof David Simbi.
Their findings and recommendations are set to assist in the formulation of legal processes required to turn the institutions into degree awarding institutions.
In his address at the 49th graduation ceremony at the United College of Education in Bulawayo on Thursday, Prof Moyo said the two committees had completed their work.
"I'm aware that Principals of our 14 teachers' colleges and eight polytechnics are keen to know how far the consultations on the transformation of tertiary institutions have gone.
"It is common cause that the two committees, led by Professor Chipo Dyanda for teachers' colleges and Professor David Simbi for polytechnics, set up to assess the readiness of our tertiary institutions, have completed their assignments.
"We are, as a Ministry, arranging to have the findings and recommendations of the two Committees formally submitted in the next two or so weeks," he said.
Prof Moyo said their recommendations would feed into the drafting of the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Bill as well as state the policy implications to be handled by the Taskforce on the Transformation of Higher Education in Zimbabwe.
"First, the findings and recommendations of a legal nature will be taken into account in the drafting of the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Bill. The drafting of that Bill has now gone into the second draft," said Prof Moyo.
He said they were expecting the Bill to be tabled before Parliament by the end of next month.
"So we are now coming to some legislative clarity and closure on this important matter on the transformation of tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions. With regards to the policy implications of the proposal to transform tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions, the respective reports of the Dyanda and Simbi Committees will be submitted to the Task Force on the Transformation of Higher Education in Zimbabwe headed by Professor Levi Nyangura, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe," said Prof Moyo.
He said the Task Force would come up with proposals that would enable Government to make an informed final decision, among many other strategic policy decisions, on the transformation of tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions.
Prof Moyo said the proposal to transform colleges into degree-offering institutions is "a clear message that STEM is not a jingle".
Two committees were set up to transform the institutions; one for teachers' colleges and another one for polytechnics respectively headed by Prof Chipo Dyanda and Prof David Simbi.
Their findings and recommendations are set to assist in the formulation of legal processes required to turn the institutions into degree awarding institutions.
In his address at the 49th graduation ceremony at the United College of Education in Bulawayo on Thursday, Prof Moyo said the two committees had completed their work.
"I'm aware that Principals of our 14 teachers' colleges and eight polytechnics are keen to know how far the consultations on the transformation of tertiary institutions have gone.
"It is common cause that the two committees, led by Professor Chipo Dyanda for teachers' colleges and Professor David Simbi for polytechnics, set up to assess the readiness of our tertiary institutions, have completed their assignments.
Prof Moyo said their recommendations would feed into the drafting of the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Bill as well as state the policy implications to be handled by the Taskforce on the Transformation of Higher Education in Zimbabwe.
"First, the findings and recommendations of a legal nature will be taken into account in the drafting of the Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Bill. The drafting of that Bill has now gone into the second draft," said Prof Moyo.
He said they were expecting the Bill to be tabled before Parliament by the end of next month.
"So we are now coming to some legislative clarity and closure on this important matter on the transformation of tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions. With regards to the policy implications of the proposal to transform tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions, the respective reports of the Dyanda and Simbi Committees will be submitted to the Task Force on the Transformation of Higher Education in Zimbabwe headed by Professor Levi Nyangura, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe," said Prof Moyo.
He said the Task Force would come up with proposals that would enable Government to make an informed final decision, among many other strategic policy decisions, on the transformation of tertiary colleges into degree awarding institutions.
Prof Moyo said the proposal to transform colleges into degree-offering institutions is "a clear message that STEM is not a jingle".
Source - newsday
