Cabinet has approved plans to introduce a programme called Work-for-Fees in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.
The work-for-fees programme is aimed at helping students from vulnerable backgrounds.
The government is also expected to set up hybrid companies to commercialise TVET products and services. The Cabinet approved this policy to coordinate TVET across different Ministries.
In her post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said:
Presently, the coordination of TVET is fragmented throughout 10 Ministries. As the nation may recall, the Second Republic is on a trajectory to transform the education system from the traditional Education 3.0 model which prioritised Teaching, Research and Community Service to one that puts emphasis on Teaching, Research, Community Service, Innovation and Industrialisation and is termed Heritage-Based Education 5.0.
This model is grounded on production of goods and services, thereby creating entrepreneurs for the industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe. The policy seeks to align education and skills training to promote wealth creation and entrepreneurship opportunities.
She said the goal of the Second Republic is for all tertiary education to help national development.
Minister Mutsvangwa added that the TVET Policy will improve infrastructure and education quality, as well as make qualifications portable across Ministries.
It is also premised on increasing the productivity and competitiveness of TVET graduates, which aligns with Vision 2030.
The minister added that all government or private institutions offering technical and vocational education will follow this policy. The private sector has contributed to the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) for this education.
The government plans to create a financing model using grants and loans from multiple sources for TVET institutions.
Context:
Many students in Zimbabwean colleges are struggling to pay their fees. This is due to a combination of economic hardships, high tuition fees, and limited access to financial aid.
As a result, some students are being denied access to education and face the risk of being expelled.
Some colleges have resorted to legal action to recover the outstanding fees, further exacerbating the problem for struggling students.
The government has introduced various initiatives to alleviate the financial burden on students, such as grants and loans, but the issue of unpaid fees persists.