Jonathan Moyo hails churches

HIGHER and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has praised churches for supporting the growth of teacher training in Zimbabwe.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony at the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ)-run Morgenster Teachers' College in Masvingo on Thursday which saw 402 students graduating with Diplomas in Education and Early Childhood Education (ECD), Prof Moyo said churches have been playing a crucial role in promoting education in the country before and after Independence.

Among the graduates, 343 graduated in the general teachers' training course while 59 graduated in the ECD course. In the general course category 217 were females while 126 were males wile in the ECD, there were 11 females and 48 males.

Prof Moyo also reiterated the need for teachers' colleges to embrace the Government's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) policy in order to equip student teachers with requisite skills saying every student teacher must have at least a Grade C in Mathematics at Ordinary Level.

"In a special way, Morgenster Teachers' College's contribution to the achievement and growth of teacher education in Zimbabwe is an important footnote to the pivotal role played by the church in Zimbabwe's teacher education before and after Independence in 1980," said Prof Moyo

He said some 168 224 teachers have been produced by church and Government teachers' colleges in Zimbabwe and out of these church colleges — namely Morgenster, Bondolfi in Masvingo and Nyadire in Mashonaland East-have produced 29 667 teachers representing 17,6 percent of 168 224 teachers produced by all colleges since 1902.

"On its part, Morgenster Teachers College under the exemplary guidance of RCZ has trained 14 405 teachers in its history. This represents 8,6 percent of the 168 224 teachers trained in the country. It is a matter of pride to note that this college is the oldest tertiary institution in the country having been established in 1902," said Prof Moyo.

He said the college is a pioneering tertiary institution in the administration of the T4 teachers' preparation programme.

"The T4 as some will recall here was a lower primary teachers' certificate equivalent to the Early Childhood Development programme. The college also established the care giver infant toddler programme for ECD students and opened ECD centres for the less privileged at Mutimurefu Prison, Alpha cottages and other rural areas in Masvingo," said Prof Moyo.

He said some of the illustrious Zimbabweans such as Minister of State for Liaison on Psychomotor Activities in Education, Senator Josiah Hungwe, Chief Mugabe, the late Jonas Zvobgo, an educationist and father to the late Dr Eddison Jonas Zvobgo and Prof Rungano Zvobgo, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Great Zimbabwe University graduated from the institution.

Prof Moyo added that church-run teacher training institutions could be upgraded to offer degree programmes.

Present at the occasion were Prof Zvobgo, Reformed Church University(RCU) Chancellor Reverend Dr Rangarirai Rutoro, RCU Vice Chancellor Prof Wiseman Magwa, Masvingo provincial education director Mr Zadius Chitiga, and Masvingo Mayor Councillor Hubert Fidze among other dignitaries. Twitter: @walterbmswazie2