Published by the government of Zimbabwe
25 August 2008
Harare — EIGHTY-ONE Early Childhood Development teachers last week received certificates in infant education and care at Seke Teachers' College after successfully completing a two-year programme sponsored by Unicef.
The in-service teacher training programme enrolled students from disadvantaged communities who were already serving as early childhood teachers in the country's formal education system.
The students were drawn from districts as far as Gokwe North, Zaka, Buhera, Hurungwe and Chegutu and went through an intensive two-year Early Childhood Development Para-Professional In-service Training programme.
Some of the graduates had spent more than 15 years working as untrained teachers.
So far more than 500 ECD teachers have been trained at the institution with the next class expected to graduate next month.
Seke Teachers' College principal Mr Ephraim Mutubuki said the programme was started in 2006 to ensure that teachers impart quality education to the nation because education was the bedrock of the country's social and economic development.
"The ministry realised the importance of catching the children while they are still young as this empowers the children with the required skills before they start their primary education," Mr Mutubuki said.
Zimbabwe requires 14 000 ECD teachers nationwide.
Mr Mutubuki said the last intake would be graduating this September, as the programme would be moved to other colleges to cater for demand in other districts.
He said he was pleased to note that there was gender balance in the intake with a considerable number of males participating in the programme.
He challenged the graduates to make use of their training in their communities.
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