Source: Teachers challenged to lead drug abuse fight – herald
Peter Matika
Bulawayo Bureau
NEWLY qualified teachers must become frontline defenders against drug and substance abuse, while embracing emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to prepare learners for a rapidly changing world.
The call was made yesterday by Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Deputy Minister Simelisizwe Sibanda during the 68th graduation ceremony of Hillside Teachers’ College in Bulawayo, where 441 teachers graduated.
The graduates, 149 men and 292 women, the Deputy Minister said, should view their graduation not as the end of their training, but as the beginning of a greater responsibility to shape the country’s future.
The event was held under the theme: “Building a sustainable future through heritage-based education.”
Deputy Minister Sibanda said teachers had a critical role to play in confronting social challenges affecting young people, particularly drug and substance abuse.
“Today is a day of triumph, but equally a day of responsibility to be the torch-bearers of shunning drugs to safeguard our future generation,” he said.
The graduates had to lead by example, serve with integrity and continuously upgrade their skills to remain relevant in an increasingly technology-driven education sector.
“Graduation does not mark the conclusion of learning; it signifies the beginning of a higher calling to service,” he said.
Deputy Minister Sibanda said the changing education landscape required teachers who could combine academic knowledge with innovation, technology, cultural values and practical skills.
He said 48,4 percent of the graduating class had completed their studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, describing the figure as evidence of the institution’s growing contribution to the country’s innovation and technological development agenda.
Deputy Minister Sibanda also challenged the college and other tertiary institutions to harness emerging technologies such as AI while ensuring that innovation remained anchored in Ubuntu/Hunhu.
AI could improve personalised learning, access to information, research and administration, but its adoption should ultimately serve humanity and promote inclusive development. Deputy Minister Sibanda cited Hillside Teachers’ College’s embrace of e-sport as one of the initiatives helping teachers acquire skills to use technology responsibly.
The college is increasingly placing heritage-based education at the centre of its training programmes.
Deputy Minister Sibanda said heritage should not simply be viewed as a link to the past, but as a resource that could drive economic transformation and national development.
He commended the college for introducing ChiNambya to the six indigenous languages already offered in its curriculum.
Government has also approved a special dispensation, effective from the first semester of this year, exempting students specialising in minority languages from the mathematics prerequisite for admission into secondary teacher training.
The measure is intended to promote minority languages, with students and lecturers already producing literature and teaching materials to support indigenous-language education. Deputy Minister Sibanda said the college’s commitment to inclusivity extended to students with disabilities, with 21 students currently benefiting from its support systems.
The Work for Fees Programme has also expanded, with beneficiaries increasing from 38 last year to 63 this year, representing a 65,8 percent increase.
Beyond classroom training, the college is strengthening the link between education and production through a number of practical projects.
Deputy Minister Sibanda cited the college’s garment production unit, bakery and Government-funded Madhumbe crisps factory as examples of initiatives translating academic knowledge into practical products and services.
The crisps factory is expected to provide practical training for students studying agriculture, food science, entrepreneurship and related disciplines while supporting community-based industrialisation and agro-processing.
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