via Coltart defends Mugabe – DailyNews Live by Lloyd Mbira 9 OCTOBER 2013
David Coltart, the former Education minister, has praised President Robert Mugabe for prioritising practical subjects in the education curriculum, saying it was long overdue.
This comes as Mugabe has been forced to explain that his new controversial minister of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education was tasked with reviving practical subjects in schools to equip pupils with “life skills.”
Coltart told the Daily News yesterday that Mugabe was spot-on in giving primacy to vocational training, as this was a missing link in the educational sector.
“I am very pleased that the president is prioritising practical subjects. I tried reviewing the education curriculum when I was still a minister but there was no political will to support my efforts,” Coltart said.
“I am now happy that Mugabe is providing this political will. His position on practical subjects is very correct and important because the issue was one which faced the Education sector.”
He said although the ministry of State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education has an important mandate, he felt that mandate could have been housed under the ministry of Education.
“If you look closely, my ministry was split into three and this drains resources. As a nation we could have done with one ministry,” Coltart said.
The appointment of Josiah Hungwe, a longtime Mugabe loyalist, as the Psychomotor minister in an already bloated Cabinet had Zimbabweans reaching for their dictionaries to learn a term for coordination between the mind and body.
Even Hungwe was unable to describe his job and asked for more time to reply in a Parliament question and answer session after he had been in the post for three weeks. He could not tell lawmakers what he had been doing at work in that time, records of the session show.
In an interview with a local daily, Mugabe described the need to promote what he called psychomotor skills that would help procure jobs for less academically-gifted students.
Hungwe would work alongside the main ministries of Education and Science and Technology, he said.
“We will have to co-opt quite a number of educational experts working under the minister of State without disorganising the smooth running of schools,” Mugabe said.
Coltart said the government should continue prioritising vocational training because it contributes to economic success.
“The long-term sustainable development and stability of Zimbabwe is dependent on us restoring excellence to education and, importantly, in making it relevant to the future needs of our nation,” Coltart said.
“Whilst we will always need doctors, lawyers, teachers and accountants we also desperately need good mechanics, farmers, electricians and computer technicians — that will only happen when our education system is geared to train children with those practical skills and talents — and that in turn will only happen when there is a better balance in the curriculum between academic and vocational subjects.”
COMMENTS
Actually, the world would be a better place without the lawyers and accountants. But it would collapse without the farmers, mechanics, plumbers, welders, and all the other people who know how to grow, make and fix things. High time they were recognised as the real movers and shakers!
Dont tell the Tax Department that you want to do away with lawyers and accountants.
That’s a good we can improve the economy with this ministry because this academics its not helpful u can have a degree u can continue suffering but practical subjects u can survive in society
Long over due
Coltart shows symptoms of a very common psychotic condition experienced by many who have been kidnapped and held hostage for an extended period. They develop a perverse emotional bond with their captors and inadvertently attempt to protect their captor.
Otherwise known as the Stockholm Syndrome.
I think and have no doubt that if the current minister of education dies (another car crash) then Coltart ll get this job for bootlicking. In Zimbabwe, all boot lickers get a reward
Hey this isn’t bootlicking its a positive comment for a development.so u want opposition to go against zanu even if its doing right.saka kuchinzi mdc marara coz hamuna development at heart all u need is power u will nevar get
How do u know that he is MDC. Its u who is marara acho coz u always think kuti if someone comments against Mugabe is MDC
Give credit where credit is due – Simples
Zimbos are always looking to point the finger, look to yourself before accusing others.
Coltart has shown positive thinking that are rare in opposition. Here is another story i picked up from the “Business Day 9 October 2013”
by jack visser, “Mugabe policies seen supporting growth”. Zimbabwe benchmsrk stocks index yrsterday rose for a 16th longest winning streak in a yr as investers speculated that President Mugabe gvt will institute policies that are supportive of economic growth”. I bet that this writer is not zimbabwean. I have known zimbos for being very negative about their country.
Initially when Mugabe came to power he was geared to develop the country but as of now he lost the touch. That’s why its now said Smith was better. People want food on the table, employment and sound economic policies supported by practical eventualities not just theories and wishful thinking with no results on the ground
We maybe diehard MDC-T but chakanaka chakanaka amana. Bob is putting into place some developmental policies. We pray that those entrusted with implementation will not fail us. Coltart has shown political fairness.
coltart he tried to be man enough ,thats exacle wht shld be done wth other mdc members who adimit their loose against zanu.
You know people like Mugabe are never to be trusted. Despite being so called intelligent with 7 degrees how the hell can you systematically and continually destroy the fabric of a whole country. Show me one policy that has worked. Education was good I will grant that but look at it now. Please Mugabe is a tyrant period
Hey fundis, the matter at hand is about giving credit where its due.
Coltart said it he never said is a ZANU PF. by spliting in to three. This needs to corrected.