Zimbabwean
Written by Students Solidarity Trust
Friday, 14 January 2011
A tussle pitting the Minister of higher education DR Stan Mudenge (Pictured) and Minister of finance Tendai Biti has ensued over the latter’s decision to reintroduce the grants and loans scheme. Announcing the 2011 budget on November 25, Minister Biti said that government in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Allied Banking Group ZABG was reintroducing the grants and loans. Government would put in 15 million dollars whilst the bank was to chip in with an equivalent amount. This means that under Minister Biti’s plan, students were going to have 30 million dollars for loans and grants in 2011.
However, expressions of disquiet have been coming from the ministry of higher education. First, it was the permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Washington Mbizvo who regretted the lack of consultation by the minister of finance before coming up with his figures. Testifying to the parliamentary committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology he said that the money was not enough and there was already a deficit from the current cadetship scheme of 13 million dollars. He therefore suggested that if the 15 million was to come from government, it would first cover the deficit before anything else. His boss Dr Stan Mudenge echoed the same sentiments at a graduation ceremony also accusing the minister of finance for not consulting before the minister announced his budget. For Dr Mudenge, the ministry requires 100 million dollars for tuition only without even factoring in accommodation.
On February 13, the government of national unity commemorates its second year and for students, the last two years have not been good at all. The discord and lack of rapport from the two ministries only exposes students and puts them in a hard position. The Students Solidarity Trust notes with sadness the failure by government to rectify the problems bedevilling the higher education ministry and the lack of initiatives by the ministry officials to alleviate the plight of students. Faced by a similar plight the Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, Senator David Coltart came up with the idea of an Education Transition Fund that has up to date raised more than 50 million dollars. Although Senator Coltart still faces an uphill task in resuscitating his ministry and returning it to its former glory, tangible and visible efforts are being seen. In contrast, Mnister Mudenge has been absent, silent and curt to Minister Biti yet his ministry has not been active in alleviating the plight of students.
The cadetship scheme has left students in a far worse condition due to the strict conditionalities attached to it. Reports of students also being unable to access the facility abound with several students coming to the SST for assistance alleging that they have not been able to access funds from the scheme. Government through Mudenge’s Ministry should urgently look at ways to alleviate the plight of the students. An educated nation is a prosperous nation and more resources, coherence and attention should be dedicated to this endeavour.