The Sunday News
Nqobizitha Dhlamini Business Reporter
STUDENTS studying for various mining disciplines at the Zimbabwe School of Mines are facing challenges in getting work-related learning places hindering their chances of finishing the programmes offered by the institution on time, an official said.Speaking at the ZMS 20th annual graduation ceremony in Bulawayo on Friday last week, the institution’s chief executive officer, Mr Dzingirai Tusai, appealed to the corporate world to assist the students by accepting those seeking work-related experience.
Mr Tusai said this year eight students failed to proceed to the final level because they had not done work-related learning due to failure to get attachment placements and this was a huge disadvantage as it disturbed the progress of their studies.
“As a result they have to repeat the level making it a hindrance to their progress, next year we will be releasing 263 students for attachment and it is our hope that the corporate sector works with us by taking up these students so they gain the relevant experience,” said Mr Tusai.
He, however, said the institution has increased enrolment per discipline from 30 in the previous years to 50.
Mr Tusai said this was due to the general expansion of the mining sector in the Sadc region and hence the need to train more technocrats to work in the sector.
“The worrying trend is the poor enrolment of female students at the institution as they contribute only 21,9 percent and as an institution we have made efforts to reach out to the girl child by visiting high schools in an effort to encourage them to pursue careers in mining,” he said.
Meanwhile, women holding leadership positions in the mining industry have joined forces with the institution to reach out to the girl child, as part of efforts to inspire and motivate them into believing in their own capabilities.
Mr Tusai said it was now in the hands of the female students to take the initiative and take steps towards striving to gain careers in the mining industry.
“These women usually accompany us during our outreach exercises because we want these girls to appreciate the importance of working in the mining sector,” he said.
He revealed that there were some departments with disappointing results like the department of Metallurgical Assaying which only produced a single graduate this year.
The department of Geology produced 51 graduates, while Mine Survey, Mining, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy produced 28, 39 and 28 graduates respectively.
