Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Zimbabwe’s pedagogical methods are an essential component in the development of human capital skills not only in Mashonaland Central but the nation at large, a senior government official said last week.
Permanent Secretary for Skills Audit and Development, Ambassador Rudo Chitiga said this while officiating a workshop where her Ministry is seeking to understand the realities of the skills landscape.
The workshop’s objectives included the need to get an appreciation of the current skills development in the province, challenges and possible partnership measures as well as understanding resource endowments in the province and the relevant skills in short supply needed in the future.
She commended DAPP Zimbabwe’s methods for improving rural socio-economic development saying they are scalable beyond Mashonaland Central. “I have heard a lot from the DAPP Organisation in Zimbabwe. It is our recommendation and it is sitting on our table and agenda that we want to rope in DAPP Zimbabwe to be part of this program development together with my Ministry, especially in the fight for Rural Socio-economic Development, not only for this province but the entire nation.
“So, DAPP, you are being warned here and please do link with our offices for more collaborations and synergies,” said the Perm Sec.
The government also challenged institutions that do not offer employment opportunities or those that do not open doors to people who did not get good results or grades from various examinations.
“Let us all be inclusive. Let us capacitate our staff. Some staff in the organisations have become redundant hence the need for training,” said the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution of Mash Central Province Hon Christopher Magomo. He also discouraged rote learning in the schools, calling for a relook into the training curriculums which should be linked to meet the changing needs and current challenges people face in various communities or sectors of business.
DAPP Zimbabwe’s projects align with the Ministry’s vision to enhance Zimbabwean citizens’ skills amidst the government’s concerns that educational institutions are churning out degreed students who are not directly serving their communities.
“As DAPP, we have opened our doors for everyone- the disabled, the outcasts from other colleges because of lack of required qualifications such as lack of mathematics and English at ordinary levels, to come and enroll in our vocational school PVTC,” said DAPP Frontline Institute Principal Doubt Musiiwa.
“Here we enroll even those without a subject for as long they can read and write. We have made synergies with institutions like Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE), offered training to the students, made their trade tested and today are flooding institutions in the whole country more to say Bindura in the confectionary undertakings, motor mechanic industries and more.” Said Doubt Musiiwa.