Hwange College of Education held its fourth graduation ceremony earlier this week, with 143 students receiving their Diplomas in Primary Education.
The event carried a significant announcement from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development.
In a speech read on his behalf by Deputy Minister Simelilizwe Sibanda, Minister Dr Fredrick Shava declared that mathematics is no longer a prerequisite for indigenous language teacher trainees.
“As part of the Ministry’s policy to train secondary teachers for indigenous languages, I am pleased to announce that mathematics is no longer a prerequisite,” Minister Shava said.
The decision aims to widen access to the teaching profession and strengthen indigenous language education in Zimbabwe. Minister Shava explained that the move ensures communities have adequate access to teachers trained in indigenous languages.
“This helps preserve Zimbabwe’s rich linguistic heritage,” he added.
The graduation was held under the theme: “Unlocking the Potential of Education 5.0 towards Industrialisation.”
Hwange College of Education has made significant strides since its establishment, particularly in promoting local languages. To date, the institution has trained 137 ChiNambya teachers and 189 ChiTonga teachers.
The college currently has an enrolment of 659 students, comprising 114 males and 535 females.
Minister Shava noted that the language policy was initially introduced for ChiNambya and ChiTonga-speaking communities. However, he confirmed that it has since been extended to all indigenous languages as required by the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 20, Act 2013.
Looking ahead, the Minister revealed that plans are underway to introduce secondary teacher training programmes specialising in indigenous languages.
“These will run alongside the existing primary teacher training programme,” he said.
The graduation ceremony was attended by Government officials, education stakeholders, families, and the local community. The event celebrated the achievements of the graduating students while highlighting the Government’s commitment to indigenous language development and the broader vision of Education 5.0.
