The Sunday News
HIGHER and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has said Vocational Training Centers (VTCs) were offering some courses that were not accredited by his ministry.
Professor Moyo said such courses need to be “revived, revamped and stematised” in line with the Ministry’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) thrust which encourages pursuance of science education in the country.
“VTCs don’t need Mathematics or any O-level for that matter. They train artisans in designated trades as skilled workers!
“VTCs are currently not offering accredited courses. They need to be reviewed, revamped & stemitised!,” said Prof Moyo via his Twitter account.
In an interview, Prof Moyo’s deputy Dr Godfrey Gandawa explained that the minister’s comments were related to “self-development” courses which are “not well recognised” and cannot be used to seek formal employment.
“We have those that write Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) examinations and these are well recognised. One actually enrolls with 5 O-levels. You can use your certificate to get employment. Then there are those that are not recognised where students are admitted with less than 5 O-levels and those are for just self-development, you cannot get a job with that,” said Dr Gandawa.
He said the diplomas were not accredited and cannot be used when seeking formal employment. Dr Gandawa said those courses were mostly offered by training centres as in-house courses and apply in the informal sector.
“Take for instance Mupfure College. They have in-house certificates which are good for self-development alone and do not apply in the formal sector,” he added.
Cde Josiah Hungwe, the Minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education who is responsible for ensuring learners have other skills apart from academia said he was eager to hear from his counterpart on the way forward.
“He is yet to tell me more about how the science, technology and Mathematics will be roped at VTCs. I haven’t heard much to that effect,” he said. He said he was, however, enthusiastic about the development.
Dr Gandawa admitted that the courses at most VCTs were old fashioned and did not meet the needs of industry which has become highly technologically advanced.
“We need to ensure our courses are advanced so that students are able to use the new and emerging technology that is now in industry because as of now they are lagging behind,” he said.
