According to Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development Ministry statistics about 2000 students out of 5 308 under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) scholarship programme who wrote Advanced Level examinations in 2017 failed to attain three points, while 385 scored zero.
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The Sunday Mail reports that 35 percent of the students failed to get even a point, 19 percent passed two subjects, and nine percent passed one subject. Government through the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund paid tuition, boarding and examination fees since 2016 to promote Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science and Biology when Professor Jonathan Moyo was still in charge of the Higher Education Ministry. Moyo’s successor Professor Amon Murwira attributed the dismal results to a poor student selection criteria. Said Murwira:
We are still analysing the results but the failure rate is too high for sponsored students. We do not expect failure from a sponsored programme. About US$10 million was used in the 2016 intake that sat for examinations in 2017. It’s risky business to think we are sponsoring scientists when they are not. If someone studies science subjects, nothing will stop them from diverting to economics, sociology and many other programmes. We are continuing with the STEM programme but the scholarship remains suspended as funds will be spent on those in tertiary institutions as they have a clear career path.”
More: Sunday Mail
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