Frederick Shava orders stupid foreign study clearance

Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Frederick Shava has directed the introduction of a mandatory pre-departure clearance system for Zimbabwean students intending to enrol at foreign universities, as government moves to strengthen oversight and quality assurance within the tertiary education sector.

The directive was issued during separate visits to the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) and the Tertiary Education Service Council (TESC) on Monday, where the minister outlined a series of reforms aimed at improving regulation, governance and institutional capacity.

Addressing officials at ZIMCHE, Shava said students planning to study abroad should first obtain clearance from the regulator to ensure they enrol at accredited institutions whose qualifications will be recognised in Zimbabwe.

"Implement pre-departure clearance for students enrolling in foreign universities to prevent wastage of time and resources on programmes that may not be recognised upon completion," he said.

The move follows concerns raised by ZIMCHE chief executive officer Professor Kuzvinetsa Peter Dzvimbo over the growing number of Zimbabwean students losing money and time after enrolling at unaccredited institutions abroad. Estimates indicate that between 15,000 and 20,000 Zimbabwean students are currently studying outside the country.

Shava also ordered ZIMCHE to expedite its relocation from offices housed at the University of Zimbabwe, arguing that a regulatory body should operate independently from institutions under its supervision.

"Expedite rehabilitation of ZIMCHE offices at 21 J.M. Nkomo Street in Hatfield to establish independence from the University of Zimbabwe and avoid potential conflicts of interest as the regulator," he said.

The minister was briefed on a number of operational challenges facing the council, including staff shortages, inadequate office space, limited equipment and poor remuneration, factors he said could undermine the organisation's effectiveness.

To modernise regulatory processes, Shava directed ZIMCHE to accelerate the digitisation of foreign qualification verification systems and take a leading role in developing an artificial intelligence policy for higher education aligned with Zimbabwe's National AI Strategy 2026-2030.

He also called for a review of the implementation of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 and the Minimum Bodies of Knowledge framework to ensure they remain relevant and effective.

During his visit to TESC, Shava expressed concern over the council's exclusion from the national budget Blue Book, warning that the situation could affect its long-term sustainability.

"The issue of limited funding, including the absence of TESC in the Blue Book, must be urgently addressed. Engagement with Treasury should be prioritised to secure sustainable funding and institutional stability," he said.

Established in 2021, TESC is responsible for managing lecturers and support staff at teachers' colleges and polytechnics following their transfer from the Public Service Commission.

Shava urged the council to harmonise reporting structures, roll out digital human resources systems and finalise a competitive conditions-of-service framework aimed at improving staff retention.

While acknowledging progress made in establishing governance and accountability systems, the minister said TESC must play a more strategic role in advancing the government's Education 5.0 agenda.

"The success of Education 5.0 hinges on the ability of institutions to produce goods and services of value to the nation," Shava said.

"TESC must therefore play a stronger role in ensuring institutions are adequately capacitated, both in terms of infrastructure and human resources, to deliver on innovation and industrialisation."

He said strengthening the capacity of both ZIMCHE and TESC was essential to improving quality assurance, workforce development and the overall competitiveness of Zimbabwe's tertiary education sector.