Acting secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Commission for the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Temba Petros Ndlovu, has challenged technical and vocational institutions to start producing consumer goods and services.Report by Rutendo Mawere Ndlovu, who was addressing a graduation ceremony at Gweru Polytechnic last Friday, accused most tertiary institutions of “a dependency syndrome”.
“Polytechnics have been, and are still relying on funds disbursed from the national coffers for their operations.
“It is high time that Polytechnics are weaned from this reliance on central government for financing their training programmes,” Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu said Zimbabwe’s technical and vocational education curriculum should vigorously pursue production education rather than focusing on theory.
“There is need now for polytechnics to enter into the actual production of tangible products and services. The tangible goods and services produced at the polytechnic must actually be sold for profit, so that the polytechnics realise actual income,” he said.
Speaking at the same function, Gweru Polytechnic principal Wellington Chandiwana bemoaned lack of machinery for mass production of quality goods.