Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Frederick Shava has ordered the introduction of a mandatory pre-departure clearance system for Zimbabwean students enrolling at foreign universities.
He also directed the Tertiary Education Service Council (TESC) to urgently engage Treasury over funding constraints, as government moves to tighten oversight of the tertiary education sector.
During separate visits to the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education (ZIMCHE) and TESC on Monday, Shava outlined measures aimed at strengthening regulation, governance and institutional capacity.
At ZIMCHE, Shava said students seeking to study abroad should first obtain clearance to avoid enrolling at institutions whose qualifications may not be recognised in Zimbabwe.
“Implement pre-departure clearance for students enrolling in foreign universities to prevent wastage of time and resources on programmes that may not be recognised upon completion,” he said.
The directive follows warnings by ZIMCHE chief executive officer Professor Kuzvinetsa Peter Dzvimbo over Zimbabweans losing money to unaccredited institutions. An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 Zimbabwean students are studying abroad.
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Shava also ordered ZIMCHE to relocate from offices at the University of Zimbabwe, saying a regulator should not operate from premises belonging to one of the institutions it oversees.
“Expedite rehabilitation of ZIMCHE offices at 21 J.M. Nkomo Street in Hatfield to establish independence from the University of Zimbabwe and avoid potential conflicts of interest as the regulator,” he said.
The minister was told ZIMCHE faces staff shortages, inadequate equipment, limited office space and poor remuneration, challenges he said could undermine its effectiveness.
He directed the council to accelerate digitisation of foreign qualification verification systems and lead the development of an artificial intelligence policy for higher education in line with Zimbabwe’s National AI Strategy 2026-2030.
Shava also ordered a review of the implementation of Heritage-Based Education 5.0 and the Minimum Bodies of Knowledge framework.
At TESC, the minister raised concern over the council’s exclusion from the national budget Blue Book, saying the issue threatens its long-term viability.
“The issue of limited funding, including the absence of TESC in the Blue Book, must be urgently addressed. Engagement with Treasury should be prioritised to secure sustainable funding and institutional stability,” he said.
Established in 2021, TESC manages lecturers and support staff at teachers’ colleges and polytechnics following their transfer from the Public Service Commission.
Shava also called for the harmonisation of TESC’s reporting structures, rollout of digital human resources systems and urgent finalisation of a competitive conditions-of-service framework to improve staff retention.
While acknowledging progress made by the council in establishing governance and accountability systems, he said TESC must evolve into a strategic driver of the government’s Education 5.0 agenda.
“The success of Education 5.0 hinges on the ability of institutions to produce goods and services of value to the nation,” Shava said. “TESC must therefore play a stronger role in ensuring institutions are adequately capacitated, both in terms of infrastructure and human resources, to deliver on innovation and industrialisation.”
The minister said strengthening both ZIMCHE and TESC was critical to improving quality assurance, workforce development and the overall competitiveness of Zimbabwe’s tertiary education sector.