shloboe boe
Nqobile Tshili, nqobile.tshili@chronicle.co.zw
A visionary pioneer in the field of indigenous education, Mr Message Ncube founded Foundation College in 1982. His noble mission was to provide a lifeline for ex-combatants whose education had been tragically interrupted by their courageous participation in the armed struggle for Zimbabwe’s liberation.
These brave individuals, having sacrificed their youth and futures for the cause of freedom, yearned to continue their education upon Independence. However, they found the doors of traditional schools largely closed to them.
Recognising the profound injustice of this situation, the then 23-year-old Mr Ncube, driven by a deep sense of social responsibility, believed that these heroes should not be denied the opportunities for which they had fought. He envisioned a future where all Zimbabweans, regardless of their past experiences, would have access to quality education.
“Those educational needs had become more apparent during the early post-independence era and had to be met. It was very clear that the objective of the armed struggle was to uplift the lives of people. Here were people coming from the liberation struggle, and many of them had cut short their education. Many of them were now supposed to be trained. My vision was to ensure that we give every person an opportunity to learn to the best of their ability,” said Mr Ncube.
Mr Ncube’s vision extended beyond Zimbabwe, welcoming South African students fighting apartheid. Today, after 43 years, he proudly oversees six schools, having educated thousands of learners, a testament to his enduring commitment to education and liberation.
“Over the years, we have been able to expand our operations, and we now have a school in Mutare and Harare. We also have several other projects in Bulawayo, where we will be building a primary school in Nketa. We are opening another school this year in Mbundane suburb. We are running six schools, including Foundation College, Premiere High School, and Eastview College, among others,” said Mr Ncube.
Mr Ncube’s Foundation College, a pioneer in independent education, has paved the way for numerous Zimbabweans to establish their own schools. When Ncube founded the college, Government and churches were the primary providers of education.
Today, independent schools thrive nationwide. Notably, Ncube introduced school uniforms, a practice now widely adopted, demonstrating the college’s innovative spirit.
“We have the experience; we have been in the education sector since 1982. While many colleges have been established since then, we pioneered the idea of having indigenous people owning schools. Some of the individuals who have established these institutions are our former students and teachers,” he said.
Mr Ncube said public-private partnerships are important in the delivery of quality education.
“The Government avails land to indigenous investors to construct schools. This can enhance the quality of our education,” said Mr Ncube.
He, however, expressed concern over the Government’s decision to withdraw salary grants for privately-owned schools.
“Well, there are those schools that are serving the community and charging less fees. They need to be subsidised by the Government through the payment of teachers. The Government last year stopped paying private schools’ teachers’ salaries. As a result, we are now being forced to charge more fees,” he said.
Mr Ncube expressed concern that while schools that charge expensive fees may remain unaffected by the withdrawal of Government grants, schools charging reasonable fees are already facing financial strain. He urged parents to carefully consider their options and only enrol their children in registered schools that are also licensed to conduct public examinations, ensuring the validity of their children’s education.”
Inspired by pioneers like Mr Ncube, entrepreneur Mr Victor Moyo, who operates six schools in Bulawayo, celebrates the strides made by indigenous citizens in enhancing education quality. Believing that quality education unlocks limitless opportunities for young people, Mr Moyo strategically located his schools in western suburbs to improve accessibility and empower the next generation to achieve their dreams.”
“If you check the environment that we are operating in, most of our schools are in the high-density suburbs in terms of numbers. In some schools, there is hot sitting of up to three sessions for the same stream. This means there is already a prejudice in terms of access to quality education. So through our schools, we are there to alleviate those problems.”
Mr Moyo highlighted a positive impact of their school construction efforts: a reduction in the number of schools operating on a triple-shift system.
Previously, some areas necessitated three shifts to accommodate all students, significantly impacting learning time and quality. By increasing school capacity, they have successfully reduced this burden in many areas.
“You will find that there might be a shortage of 3 000 schools in the country, and I have contributed six. This is a significant contribution, and we are indeed complementing the Government in the delivery of education. We have V Mhlophe, Angels, CANA, Tshebetshebe, Victory College, Vocational Active Training Centre, and we are on the verge of opening Victory Junior School in Kings City in Umguza, all in efforts to ensure that children have access to education,” he said.
Mr Moyo stressed the significant financial burden private schools shoulder, particularly in covering the full cost of teacher salaries. He urged the Government to consider a partial subsidy for teacher salaries at private institutions.
This, he argued, would alleviate the financial pressure on schools and, consequently, on parents and guardians, who ultimately bear the brunt of these costs through school fees.
Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary, Mr Moses Mhike, acknowledged the investment from the private sector into the country’s education system.
“One of the biggest challenges we have as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is the issue of infrastructure. So those private individuals who have invested in the country’s education sector have closed the infrastructural gap that the Government, churches, and local authorities have not been able to fill,” said Mr Mhike. —@nqotshili
