Zimbabwe’s education system has received a special commendation from the United Nations (UN) for its innovative approach to promoting local industrialization and development. The UN Resident Coordinator in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Edward Kallon, said that the education 5.0 strategy, which focuses on teaching, research, community service, innovation, and industrialization, was a well-conceived concept that made learning useful and relevant for the country’s aspirations.
Ambassador Kallon made these remarks during a public lecture at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) on the UN Systems and Operations in Zimbabwe. The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences organized the lecture for the students in the Department of Governance and Public Management. The lecture aimed to acquaint the learners with real-life or work experience as they prepare for a diplomacy profession.
The Education 5.0 strategy was introduced by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, and Technology Development in 2016 to align the curriculum with the national vision of achieving an empowered upper-middle-income economy by 2030. The strategy seeks to transform tertiary institutions into centers of excellence that produce problem-solvers and value-creators graduates. The strategy also aims to foster collaboration between academia, industry, and government to address the challenges and opportunities in the country.
Ambassador Kallon said that the UN was ready to support Zimbabwe in implementing the education 5.0 strategy and other development initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted some key areas of cooperation between the UN and Zimbabwe, such as health, climate change, peace and security, human rights, and governance. He also commended the country for its progress in addressing debt and arrears clearance dialogue with creditors and development partners.
The UZ Vice Chancellor, Professor Paul Mapfumo, said that the university was undergoing a radical transformation in which new programs were being introduced and old ones retired. He said the university used a philosophy anchoring on the local language kuziva, kugona nekuita (ideate, innovate, and industrialize). He said that the university was committed to producing graduates who could contribute to the modernization and industrialization of Zimbabwe.
Mrs Cherryl Mlambo, who represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade at the lecture, said that Zimbabwe subscribes to the dictates of the UN. She also praised the Zimbabwe Defence Forces for being among the leaders of gender parity in its deployment to the UN peacekeeping missions at an average of 71 percent female ratio.
The public lecture was attended by students, academics, diplomats, government officials, and representatives of civil society. It was part of the activities to mark the 76th anniversary of the UN.
Source: The Herald
