Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE government of Kuwait is prepared to offer scholarships to up to 100 Zimbabwean students each year to study sciences at both state and private universities.

Presenting a report in the National Assembly on the bilateral visit by a Parliamentary delegation to Kuwait, Makonde Member of Parliament Kindness Paradza told MPs last week that the government of Kuwait was willing to offer scholarships to Zimbabwean students.

The delegation, led by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, was invited by the Kuwait parliament.

“At this meeting, the Speaker of Parliament Cde Mudenda outlined the Zimbabwean government’s initiative aimed at promoting the teaching and learning of Mathematics and Science subjects in secondary schools in order to boost Zimbabwe’s technological advancement.

“The Kuwait Minister of Education highlighted that they were prepared to receive up to 100 Zimbabwean students each year to study sciences, under scholarship, at both state and private universities. The entry level would be a minimum of 12 points at A-Level,” said Paradza.

He said the focus on sciences would not necessarily neglect the arts.

“The Kuwait government is willing to also offer scholarships to university teaching staff wishing to further their academic studies through staff development programmes.

“The Speaker of Parliament told Hamad Al-Essa that the partnership with Kuwait would augment the current Presidential Scholarship in Zimbabwe, which mainly targets universities in South Africa,” said Paradza.

He said only two Zimbabwean students are currently studying in Kuwait.

The government this year launched a programme to pay school fees for students who take Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at A-Level in a bid to empower Zimbabweans to become globally competitive.

The programme is being championed by the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development.