Adopt psychomotor activities: Mbizvo

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HIGHER and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology ministry permanent secretary Washington Mbizvo has said institutions of higher learning should adopt psychomotor activities and set up entrepreneurship centres to equip students with practical skills to venture into business.

HIGHER and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology ministry permanent secretary Washington Mbizvo has said institutions of higher learning should adopt psychomotor activities and set up entrepreneurship centres to equip students with practical skills to venture into business.

LINDA CHINOBVA OWN CORRESPONDENT

Speaking at the Bulawayo Polytechnic annual graduation and prize-giving last Thursday, Mbizvo said tertiary institutions were failing to come up with more practical orientation and vocational relevance to entrepreneurial learning.

“Institutions of higher learning should adopt psychomotor activities and set up entrepreneurship centres for entrepreneurship training that will stimulate creativity in students and enable them to identify opportunities for innovation,” he said.

“The challenge is to create a system which provides the Zimbabwean citizenry with the provision of entrepreneurial education and training which allows for the enhancement of knowledge and skills to stimulate growth of business activity and an entrepreneurial culture.”

Mbizvo said entrepreneurship had been considered a significant factor for sustainable socioeconomic growth and development.

He said institutions should continue training in business development and support industry and commerce as well as adult training and retraining.

Mbizvo said institutions of higher learning had to operate in conjunction with the private sector to enhance technical and vocational education training initiatives.

“Technical and vocational education training initiatives require the contribution of private partners, therefore there is a need for institutions of higher learning to combine with the private sector in order to meet human capital development needs,” he said.

Mbizvo urged the 1 320 graduates to use their acquired skills to further transform Zimbabwe and the world into a better place.

Bulawayo Polytechnic principal Gilbert Mabasa said the college was committed to the provision of qualitative technological education and training in order to satisfy the current and future needs of the formal and informal sector in Zimbabwe.

He said the college was, however, concerned on the marginal decline in enrolment.

“As an institution, we are worried about the marginal decline in enrolment of 11%. The current student population is 3 275 compared to the 3 679 students in 2013.

“The gender disparities are a matter of concern for Bulawayo Polytechnic. In 2013, the student gender distribution was 2 213 males and 1 466 females. This year the gender distribution is 2 213 males and 1 162 female,” Mabasa said.

He said the persistence of gender disparities in the enrolment figures in technical and vocational education in the country was a constant threat to the advancement of the girl child.

He also said the college had a 44% staff deficit.