Govt urges private sector to invest in tertiary education

Business Reporter

GOVERNMENT has urged the private sector to invest in tertiary education to enable the country to achieve its economic turnaround efforts.

Speaking at the British American Tobacco Zimbabwe’s fifth undergraduate scholarship scheme presentation ceremony in Harare last Friday, Permanent secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Washington Mbizvo said the private sector is largest consumer of graduates from universities and should contribute in the grooming of students.

"I note with great satisfaction that BAT Zimbabwe embraced a new development strategy through its contributions of resources towards the development of much needed skills in the economy even more significantly given the recent brain drain.

"Allow me to urge stakeholders in the private sector to emulate the example set by BAT.

"Abundant opportunities exist to develop partnerships in basic research, education, supporting research parks and incubators, commercialisation and public outreach programmes with institutions dedicated to advancement of science, engineering, ICT to improve the economic and social well being of the nation and the region.

"We are therefore calling upon the private sector to invest in this sector as human capital is by and large the nation," he said.

Dr Mbizvo said the initiative by BAT Zimbabwe, show that there is room for collaboration and that there is no end to collaborative approaches.

He added that the ultimate goal of the technical capability and scientific research activities, is training and education of the skilled labour that is critical to the recovery and expansion of the economy.

Meanwhile, BAT has said it will continue to find ways of empowering students from underprivileged backgrounds and on a sustainable basis to upgrade their contribution to economic development.

In a speech read on his behalf, BAT Zimbabwe chairman Mr Kennedy Mandevhani said his company had maintained the scholarship scheme throughout the years the economy went through challenges.

He said that company believed that the impact of its contributions to society would be determined by its ability to create sustainable corporate social investment initiatives.

"In the spirit of mutual benefit, BAT Zimbabwe will continue to associate itself with worthwhile social investment projects such as the undergraduate scholarship scheme and other projects as well," he said.

The scholarships that cover tuition fees and provide an allowance for each student at university regardless of the duration of their course were awarded to three students who will pursue different disciplines including medicine. Since he programme was initiated in 2005, a total of 52 students have benefited without any strings attached.