Higher education, science on the move after crisis

Zimbabwe has made strides in implementing some targets contained in its five-year science and higher education policy, as efforts to improve standards eroded by a decade of turmoil gather momentum.

The 2011-15 Medium Term Plan, or MTP – which encompasses science, information and communication technology (ICT) and transformation of the university sector – has borne fruit in its first year of implementation, even though a lot of ground still needs to be covered, according to an official review.

In 2011, the MTP set a review of national science and technology policy as a key target. On 13 June, the new policy was successfully launched, in line with the African Union’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action 2008-13.

The science policy among other things targeted for development the areas of biotechnology, ICT, nanotechnology and space sciences that emphasise meteorological applications, land use and aeromagnetic surveillance for mineral exploration.

The MTP also seeks to improve the teaching of maths and sciences, and in response to that goal, three teacher training colleges – Hillside, Mutare and Belvedere – have introduced bachelor of education degrees in maths and science for secondary school teachers through open and distance learning.

The five-year plan has the target of linking research projects to the private sector. Within the past year a committee has been set up, charged with evaluating research projects for funding. So far, 17 projects have been approved and are being funded.

Another target is to develop a resource mobilisation strategy for science, and an Innovation Fund has been created by the Ministry of Science and Technology, funded by government.

In higher and tertiary education, a goal is to reverse the severe brain drain suffered during Zimbabwe’s decade-long economic and political crisis.

The Zimbabwe Human Capital website has been established to provide information on job opportunities and link them to potential labour, as well as investment opportunities that professionals in the diaspora may take advantage of.

In addition, said the MTP review, “the database which is linked to the website is designed to capture the profiles of Zimbabweans in the diaspora who are interested in participating in various initiatives where their skills would be required”.

One of the initiatives championed is the return of Zimbabwean lecturers abroad to teach at local universities for varying periods.

The government failed to establish and operationalise the Zimbabwe Examinations and Qualifications Authority in 2011, as targeted, but by June this year more than 200 standards had been developed. Also, the government closed more than 100 unregistered private colleges in a bid to ensure that students receive only quality education.

Progress has also been made in terms of the government’s aim of putting in place an institutional framework to enable institutions to engage in public-private partnerships.

Examples include the University of Zimbabwe’s continuing fundraising initiative, headed by former South African president Thabo Mbeki and launched in April this year, which raised US$12 million in less than three months. A number of companies adopted faculties, while others pledged to build infrastructure such as girls’ hostels and a chapel.

The five-year plan includes massive public works, and construction has been under way at universities in an effort to complete new or existing projects. This year saw the completion of a new military university, thanks to a Chinese loan, and the completion of outstanding buildings at another military institution.

By June, construction of halls of residence at the National University of Science and Technology was 90% completed, and a new hostel for female students at JM Nkomo Polytechnic was 80% completed. Construction of student halls was also ongoing at Midlands State University and at Lupane State University, where a faculty of agriculture was also being built.

The government’s major failure in higher education was not introducing a viable student support programme, and its inability to pay debts to state universities running into millions of American dollars, according to the review.