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Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango

Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Bureau
GOVERNMENT has invested $3 million in teacher capacity development programmes to enable them to effectively teach vernacular languages that have been included in the education system in line with the new curriculum.

In an interview, Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary, Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango said Government had, since the inception of the teacher capacity development programme in 2014, disbursed $3 million for the programme.

She said donors have also chipped in with more funds.

More than 2 500 teachers have been enrolled in universities under the teacher capacity development programme.

Dr Utete-Masango said the Education Ministry had engaged five universities as implementing partners in the teacher capacity development programme.

She said some of the universities have introduced new degree programmes for vernacular languages.

“We have so far spent $ 3 million in the teacher capacity development programme. We have, however, encountered challenges here and there and recently we approached the finance ministry to resolve the problem and they have committed themselves. The Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Ministry is also aware.

“We have partnered with Midlands State University which has so far enrolled 630 teachers in Information and Communication Technology, Great Zimbabwe University which has enrolled teachers in vernacular languages, Zimbabwe Open University focuses on Administration programmes, Bindura enrols in Science subjects and University of Zimbabwe also has its own role,” she said.