Heritage Based Education 5.0 leads to quality artisans, technicians: Ministry Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Fanuel Tagwira

Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]

POLYTECHNIC colleges have embraced the transformative Heritage Based Education 5.0 with industry assessors expressing satisfaction over the quality of artisans and technicians being produced, which reduces the country’s skills gap.

The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development on Monday released the Higher Education Examinations Council (Hexco), National Foundation Certificate (NFC) to Higher National Diploma (HND) results showing a 62 percent pass rate.

In an interview yesterday, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, said the Government was satisfied with results from students in polytechnics, as the pass rate has been steadily increasing in the past three years.

“The overall percentage pass rate increased from 59,6 percent in 2023 to 62,7 percent in 2024. So, the Government is satisfied with the students’ performance and results as Hexco’s summative assessments are competency based and a 62,7 percent pass rate is a good achievement against industry set standards,” he said. 

“This is evidenced by the average Hexco pass rate for the last three years that is around 60-62 percent.”

Prof Tagwira said the polytechnics are fully in compliance with the Education 5.0, which demands that institutions should innovate and contribute to the country’s industrialisation.

Prof Tagwira said even independent industry assessors have given thumbs up to the education model that is being delivered at the polytechnics.

“Polytechnics have fully embraced Heritage Based Education 5.0 philosophy as evidenced by the Chief External Assessors’ reports from the 10 regions produced by industry experts in the External Assessment of the just ended April/May examination session,” he said.

“Heritage Based Education 5.0 philosophy emphasises on ensuring that artisans and technicians produced must be able to deliver a quality product or a service at the end of every programme. 

“In this regard all polytechnic programmes are expected to deliver industrialisation through providing goods or services for the respective discipline or sector.”

He said in line with National Development Strategy 1 on critical skills development, the Government set new targets for polytechnics to produce more artisans and technicians in response to the Critical Skills Audit of 2018.

“The ministry is glad to report that even for this first quarter performance targets on the number of certified skilled workers that are artisans and technicians we were able to surpass our set target of 14 000 by delivering 15 845 certifications,” said Prof Tagwira. 

“Critical sets being produced in the polytechnics that are key for attainment of Vision 2030 include but are not limited to artisans and technician certifications in the following disciplines: Automotive and Mechanical Engineering, Public Health, Creative Arts, Information Communication Technology: which includes Software Engineering, Programming and Data Science, Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Para-Legal Studies and e-Commerce,” he added.

Prof Tagwira said the Government is satisfied with the innovations at polytechnics and the skills being produced were showcased at the 64th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

In line with the dictates of Heritage Based Education 5.0, he said innovations were satisfying human needs or usability, technological feasibility and business viability. 

Soon the ministry expects to host the Presidential Innovation Fair, which will allow players in the higher and tertiary sector to showcase their skills in line with the expectations of Government of a knowledge driven economy. —@nqotshili 

 

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