The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
PRIMARY and Secondary Education Minister, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu has challenged schools to turn into business and commercial hubs that play pivotal roles in the economic revolution being spearheaded by the Second Republic.
Minister Ndlovu said this while handing over serviced sows to 20 schools in Manicaland Province at Mavhudzi High School last week on Wednesday under the Presidential Schools Piggery Project.
The pigs were sourced from Zimbabwe Foundation for Education with Production (ZIMFERP).
Besides ensuring food security in schools, Minister Ndlovu added that the project will emphasise a more practical oriented learning by learners and inculcate lifelong skills in them.
“Today we are gathered here for the ZMFERP-Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Presidential Schools Pig Scheme — a scheme which was made possible by the benevolence of ZIMFERP in its quest to make sure that all rural schools are not left behind in the commercialisation of the education sector. The organisation has backed up plans to distribute 1 000 pigs to schools.
“The programme is set up in this manner that, one serviced sow will be given to each school and after farrowing, the female piglets will be given to other schools, while the sow remains at the original school. This set-up will definitely see schools in all districts participating in piggery projects within a short period of time.
“These projects, if done properly as expected will, not only result in revenue generation for schools, but result in employment creation for communities where schools are situated.
“Schools will be expected to produce feeds by themselves. The growing of cereal crops will be inevitable and will result in meaningful farming at school levels,” said Minister Ndlovu.
She added: “The processing of raw materials into finished or semi-finished products will require a robust business model where all school departments can play a part. I am quite confident that the commercialisation of the education sector will take a positive trajectory that will result in reduced burden of education to parents.”
Chitepo School of Ideology Principal, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha said the project will capacitate the communities, teachers and learners and help to achieve Vision 2030.
“Commercial production in our schools is now a key priority. If we are serious about turning the economic fortune of this country, the education sector must play a pivotal role. There is no country that develops without education sector playing its part. Besides producing high quality labour force we should also demonstrate practically how certain theories and concepts can be translated into goods and services.
“We should be masters of our destiny. Schools must link theory with practice and form partnerships with established business,” he said.
Mavhudzi High School, a ZIMFERP School was highly commended for being one of the leading schools implementing the education with production mantra as evidenced by some of its brilliant works such as a thriving 35-hectare tobacco crop, animal husbandry such as cattle, piggery, several types of chickens, egg production, garden, bakery, carpentry and welding.
School headmistress, Ms Violet Dube said they do not rely on outsourcing goods, especially food as they are producing at the school and learners are involved in the production process.
“Here, it is all about production. We impart life skills that help learners in appreciating hard work.
“We groom learners who are ready to solve community and national challenges practically. We emphasise entrepreneurship, critical thinking, problem solving, leadership, teamwork, research and innovation.
“Our school is slowly turning into an commercial entity. We are teaching our learners to create wealth by being practical and hands-on,” she said.
