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Techno-innovations by learning institutions offering practical solutions: President Mnangagwa

President Mnangagwa presiding over Chinhoyi University of Technology graduation ceremony
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By Elvis Dumba

Chinhoyi – The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education’s thrust for education 5.0 aligned syllabus which encourages higher learning institutions to produce innovative graduates is offering practical rather than theoretical solutions to a myriad of challenges faced by the nation.

The country’s higher institutions of learning are now focusing on techno-innovative-based programs that have resulted in the establishment of innovation hubs where students are producing various products.

This was revealed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Chinhoyi University of Technology graduation ceremony who said paper qualifications are futile when one cannot produce finished products.

He said the government, through innovation hubs, has managed to ensure the country uses locally produced products in various sectors.

President Emerson Mnangagwa said the government is saving foreign currency by using locally manufactured syringes in the health sector

“We no longer import syringes which we were buying outside the country at US$0,14 as our innovators who are being produced from our university innovation hubs came forward and said they can produce these syringes which we are now buying at US$0,04 allowing us to save. This is what we expect from our institutions of higher learning as just having a paper qualification does not help us. We need to celebrate qualifications that enable you to produce quality products and services,” he said.

He added that the education system should adequately empower a student to be self-sustaining and contribute to national development by ensuring that no place or person is left behind as the country targets to achieve a middle-income economy by 2030.

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Byron Adonis Mutingwende