KAROI Town Council and the Catholic Church have sealed a deal to establish a teachers’ training college in Hurungwe District, with classes expected to commence in September this year after seven years of negotiations.
The agreement marks a major milestone in efforts to expand access to higher education in the district. The Catholic Church will temporarily host classes at Chinhoyi Pastoral Centre while a permanent campus is developed in Karoi. The project is expected to reduce youth migration into informal activities by providing local training opportunities.
The agreement was confirmed yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting.
Reverend Kenneth Mapanda said the Church was pleased to have finally reached a consensus with the local authority and the community.
“As the Catholic Church, we are happy that the Karoi town council and the community at large have accepted us. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education has since approved us, and we are racing against time to establish a primary training college,” he said.
Classes will initially be conducted at Chinhoyi Pastoral Centre while construction of the permanent campus continues on a 50-hectare site in Karoi.
Mapanda said the goal was to establish a facility that responds to the urgent demand for teacher training in the district.
“The motivational spirit is accepted. We appreciate the gesture by the council for Karoi Teachers Training College,” he said.
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Karoi Town Council chairperson Kudakwashe Chigumo said the project would help address youth unemployment and reduce social challenges affecting young people.
“It has been our wish as Karoi and Hurungwe districts to have children accessing higher education. The lack of opportunities has pushed some into farming, mining, and even drug abuse,” he said.
Chigumo described the project as a legacy investment aligned with Karoi’s master plan development corridor.
“We are happy and convinced to get this done productively and build a legacy for Hurungwe. We engaged the Catholic Church about a teachers' college in 2019, and it’s a dream come true. We hope that the Catholic teachers' college serves our communities,” he said.
Council also cited the recently completed health facility in Chiedza suburb as evidence of its capacity to deliver development projects.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the teachers’ college is scheduled for June, with senior provincial government officials expected to officiate.
