Defensa Derecho Educación

THE government will next year launch a tuition loan scheme for higher and tertiary education students, higher education minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has revealed.

Addressing the Zanu PF conference in Masvingo, Moyo said his ministry has already engaged the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) over modalities of the facility.

«The ministry has engaged RBZ to structure a student loan scheme for higher and tertiary education institutions to be run by financial institutions with proven micro financing capacity.

«This scheme will be launched in the coming year to help parents and guardians who are struggling to pay higher and tertiary education fees for their children.»

The minister also revealed that the government is planning to introduce an infrastructure bond for higher and tertiary education institutions.

The bond would be used to address student and staff accommodation as well as administrative and learning infrastructure needs at tertiary and universities.

«A decision on the infrastructure bond was finalised (last week) by the State Procurement Board. The decision will be made public shortly after the usual formalities have been done» he said.

Moyo, who is also the ruling party’s secretary for Technology in the politburo also announced that polytechnic colleges will no longer be required to train artisans.

«As a ZIMASSET response to Zimbabwe’s quest for industrialisation, polytechnics will leave the training of artisans to Industrial Training and Trade Testing Centre while they will transform into degree offering institutions that train technologists under the banner of stem263» he explained.