Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora unveils the plaque that marked the handover of Eaglesvale School from the Dutch Reformed Church (Central Africa) to the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe last week. Looking on is Eaglesvale High School headmaster Mr Norman Tirivavi (far left) and a dignitary
Victoria Ruzvidzo
THE release of both Cambridge and Zimsec Ordinary and Advanced Level results has been met with much excitement and in some instances trepidation as dreams draw closer to reality for some while for others the future appears doomed and they have to trudge back to the drawing board.
Zimbabwe is renowned for its high literacy rate, evidenced by the highly skilled and learned labour force that several economies depend on.
Africa and the world at large is benefiting immensely from the generally sound primary, secondary and tertiary education that Zimbabwe offers.
It is no secret that such economies as South Africa, Botswana, Kenya and many others have their key sectors and institutions in the hands of the hardworking Zimbabweans.
Their innovation, high resolve to succeed and immense positive energy has also enabled this country to remain standing during periods everyone else thought the economy would just collapse. God has really been kind to this nation.
Back to the examination results, reaction within families are indicative of the importance assigned to education with every family celebrating when their loved ones score huge successes while others are not so fortunate and have angrily reacted by condemning their children and instituting one form of punishment or another.
Some have career paths already set for them while for the not so fortunate, it appears they may have to take whatever comes their way as the result slips, reflecting a few Ds, Es and Us, do not give them much choice if any.
But there is hope. Indeed those that have made it should pursue the careers of their choice while others may not pursue the academic path any further but could receive training in entrepreneurship and start projects that will not only empower them but will help take the economy forward, feeding on strategies already on the ground top grow the Gross Domestic Product.
Indeed many school leavers, not necessarily just those that have not made it, are roaming the streets, choosing to while up time at such places as the notorious Ximex Mall when they could be engaging in lucrative projects.
That is where the need to inculcate an entrepreneurial culture even right at primary school level comes in.
President Mugabe has emphasised on this and various schools of thought worldwide are now of the opinion that the academic needs to be balance with an entrepreneurial culture for any graduates or school leaver to find space in the global economy.
Some fortunate ones with well-to-do parents can quickly be absorbed into family business but for the rest, they will have to start income generating projects to take care of themselves and their siblings.
Entrepreneurship has emerged as the buzzword in the 21st century, not only in Zimbabwe but globally.
It’s a concept that trains people to be business-minded, departing from the old system where schools taught children to follow mere careers.
It’s a culture that needs to be inculcated into the minds and education system to produce a self-sustainable pupil.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Lazarus Dokora was spot on when he emphasised the importance of education as he spoke at Eaglesvale School last week while officiating at the hand-over ceremony of the school from the Dutch Reformed Church of Zimbabwe to the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe.
This event itself was a major victory for education as it brought to an end the leadership wrangle that threatened to retard progress at the school.
The future of the hundreds of students at the Eaglesvale primary and secondary schools were, at some point hanging in the balance as the tussle over the ownership of the school threatened to bring the walls down.
However, the headmaster, Mr Norman Tirivavi, who himself was at some point suspended over the wrangle, was upbeat and quite excited that the issue has finally come to rest and that the administration would now get down to business and concentrate on improving the welfare of the students under their care.
The reassurance and support from Government and other stakeholders have given Mr Tirivavi a spring in his walk.
Four Government ministers: Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo, Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha and the Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora graced the occasion, signifying the importance Government assigns to things education.
Eaglesvale is one school that has introduced an increasing number of subjects, particularly at Advanced Level, to equip students for the business world.
There are many others on this track and that is as it should be.
Such subjects as Business studies, Travel and Tourism, Thinking Skills, ICT and design and technology that are being offered in some of these schools help students shift their mindset as they pursue certain paths into their future.
Those that have made it in the business world, the global millionaires and billionaires started entrepreneurship at a very young age.
These examples include Nigeria’ Aliko Dangote, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and many others.
Their success stories demonstrate that the future is always bright for those that grow up with a business-mindset.
Aliko Dankote, who is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the 43rd richest person in the world, had an eye for business at a young age. His business empire, worth more than $21 billion, include construction, soft-drink manufacturing, breweries, sugar refining, flour production and other subsidiaries.
“I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets and I would start selling them just to make money. I was so interested in business, even at that time,” he is quoted as saying.
He has received several international business awards due to is business acumen, which he has obviously sharpened as they years go buy.
His story goes to show how an entrepreneurial culture can benefit an individual and a nation at large once its part of the education system.
Bill Gates began to show interest in computers at a tender age of 13. A passion he pursued right through college. His innovation, keen business strategy and aggressive business tactics helped him and his friend Paul Allen to build the world’s largest software business.
There are local stories of successful business people such as Adam Molai, Savanna Holdings Executive Chairman who grew up helping his father to run his retail business in Marondera. This other day he was telling me that he would help sell boxes of matches from his father’s supermarket, adding a dollar or two on top of the prices.
He would use the profit as pocket money foe school while building on his business. Small wonder he has achieved a lot on the business front in his hometown and here in Harare.
We need to inject such a culture into our young ones so that they will not find themselves stranded when the job market continues to shrink. They need to help create employment themselves.
This economy will need such business acumen as we drive towards the US$100 billion economy in a few years to come.
In God I Trust!
- Email:victoria.ruzvidzo@zimpapers.co.zw