Norman Dururu
GWERU — The government has expressed concern over low pass rates, lecturer conduct, and administrative inefficiencies at the country’s polytechnics.
Speaking at the 35th graduation and prize-giving ceremony at Gweru Polytechnic recently, the Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Smelisizwe Sibanda, called for urgent reforms to improve teaching standards and student outcomes.
A total of 790 students graduated, comprising 310 males and 480 females. Of these, 351 graduates, or 44.4 percent, came from STEM-related fields.
However, the institution recorded an overall pass rate of 74 percent, which the Deputy Minister said required serious scrutiny.
Sibanda questioned why students who meet the required five Ordinary Level subjects for admission to polytechnics subsequently fail after spending one to three years pursuing their programs.
“As Government, we are concerned about this. In some disciplines, you find a pass rate of 55 percent. What is the problem in our polytechnics? We are really concerned about this,” he said.
The Deputy Minister contrasted the performance of polytechnics with that of universities and other tertiary institutions, some of which record pass rates between 98 and 100 percent.
Sibanda said the Government would investigate the causes of poor performance and address the challenges affecting students.
He also challenged lecturers to demonstrate greater commitment to teaching and to improve their relationships with students.
“We expect our lecturers to attend all lectures. We want to see this happening going forward, especially in our polytechnics,” he said.
The Deputy Minister further criticised delays in issuing certificates, noting that some graduates wait for months. In contrast, graduates from universities, teachers’ colleges, agricultural colleges, and the School of Mines generally receive their certificates soon after graduation.
He urged polytechnics to “go back to the drawing board” and address weaknesses in teaching, administration, and student performance to ensure graduates acquire skills relevant to industry and the broader economy.
Gweru Polytechnic principal, Engineer Washington Chandiwana, said 1,094 students were eligible to sit for examinations, with 1,064 eventually writing. About 280 students failed the examinations.
He said the institution had increased STEM enrollment from 904 to 973 students and had recorded a rise in the number of inventions.
Meanwhile, Student Representative Council chairperson Peter Muzheki raised concern about the growing scourge of drug and substance abuse among young people.
Analysts have raised concern over the decline in the standard of education in Zimbabwe in recent years.
