The Sunday News
Vuyelwa Sibindi/ Siphathisiwe Tshuma, Sunday News Reporters
Students unions in the country have called for changes in the Zimbabwean tertiary education sector.
Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) Secretary General Mr Godknows Mdhari expressed concern over the deteriorating standards in the tertiary education system.
“There is need to reform the education system to produce ideal students will lead the country to greater heights. The era of Minister Prof Jonathan Moyo should end now, students need handlers who have an open door policy not agents of political factional agendas. Lack of inclusiveness has led to the deterioration of our education sector and we hope the President will change that,” he said.
The union’s president, Mr Takudzwa Gambiza, highlighted that there was need for a thorough review of the curriculum in order to realign it with the country’s economic needs.
“There is a need for the government to find ways to sychronise our primary and secondary education with needs of the country. We need economic relevant studies and a reduction of exorbitant tuition fees, our universities need to be responsive to our economic needs as our universities have been capping students that cannot be assimilated into the economy,” said Gambiza.
Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) president Alister Pfunye called for the review of the Zimbabwe Amendment Act of 1990 which governs all institutions.
“We call on the new government to demilitarise our campuses in order for student intimidation to be a thing of the past and for the construction of hostels to accommodate all students. We urge the government to invest in Wi-Fi services for students and modern libraries to propel academic excellence.
“Universities need structural changes in the curriculum so as to promote entrepreneurship tenets that lead to innovation and decent jobs, twinning our universities with foreign universities and centers of research will help students to twin theory and practice and aid cross pollination of ideas,” he continued.
The student leaders also appealed to government to do away with attachment fees, as students would not be attending classes during that period. Both student unions also congratulated President Emmerson Mngangagwa on his inauguration on Friday.
