Mutare Polytechnic College principal Poniso Watema and tertiary education expert Hardson Kwandai have urged Zimbabweans to stop underrating Polytechnic colleges in preference for universities. They argue that polytechnic qualifications allow students to be self-employed which results in less unemployment. They cited examples of graduates who have degrees but are without employment.
Watema said:
The problem is with parents who still consider practical courses as only suitable for students they think are not academically gifted. It’s very sad.
Kwandai, who holds a higher education PhD said
Parents should be well aware that it is not enough to send a child to university without considering what they are going to do.
How many people are unemployed? So many, but we continue to produce the same skills. There is no link between the labour market and the institutions of higher learning.
Reason, there is no research as to who do we want to produce. The problem is not just in Zimbabwe but Africa as well.
They should know whether what they are studying is worthwhile. Universities should also provide evidence of this by showing what former students are doing as a result of the training they got from each degree programme.
More: Daily News