Staff Reporter
Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Fanuel Tagwira, has called on SADC member states to urgently align education, science, and innovation policies with the region’s industrialisation agenda, saying the time for deliberation is over and the time for action is now.
Delivering his opening remarks at the SADC Ministers of Education and Training and Science, Technology and Innovation meeting at the Harare International Conference Centre, today, Prof. Tagwira said regional development hinged on strengthening the pillars of quality education, entrepreneurship, and science-led solutions to key challenges.
“As we convene to discuss the future of education, science, technology and innovation in our region, we are reminded of the critical role these sectors play in driving socio-economic development. "No nation can rise above the level of its education,” said Prof. Tagwira.
He highlighted the SADC University of Transformation (SUT) as a flagship initiative that must be fast-tracked.
“This institution is no longer a concept but a living institution poised to bridge the gap between SADC academia and industry. We must commit to producing job creators, not just job seekers,” he urged.
Prof. Tagwira also emphasised the importance of adopting the SADC Qualifications Framework and the revised guidelines on Credit Accumulation and Transfer Systems (CATS) and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
“A mechanic certified in Malawi must be recognised in Mozambique. A nurse trained in Zimbabwe must be able to work in Zambia. This is the future we must build.”
Addressing foundational learning, Prof. Tagwira decried that over 30% of SADC youth lacked basic literacy and numeracy skills.
“This undermines industrialisation. We must scale up programmes such as the CSTL and digitise foundational learning with partners like UNESCO and the Gates Foundation,” he said.
On science and technology, he pointed to opportunities in AI-powered mining, smart agriculture, and the growth of the digital economy.
“The Regional Innovation and Technology Support Programme can unlock a US$5 billion digital economy, but we must incubate and support our own startups. Let us adopt the revised TVET Strategic Framework (2024–2030), endorse regional qualification guidelines, and champion the SADC University of Transformation as a beacon of pan-African excellence,” Tagwira added.
Prof. Tagwira concluded by urging deeper collaboration, investment, and inclusivity.
“Together, let us build a SADC where no skill is wasted, no innovation is siloed, and no learner is left behind.”
