Calvin Manika
IN the last quarter of 2019, Don Bosco Technical College went into an overdrive mode to expand its educational scope by creating learning opportunities to the people within Hwange district and the nation at large.
Hwange has remained an industrial hub in the country; however, due to lack of skills by the locals, the technical and managerial jobs have been occupied by people from outside. To mitigate the skills gap, the college set a technical committee to spearhead the establishment a mining school.
Don Bosco technical team visited various stakeholders which include corporates like Zambezi Gas mining company, JRG Contractors, Premier Stones Crushers, Chilota Coal mining, W and K coal mining, Hwange Colliery Company limited, South mining private limited, Hwange Coal Gasification Company, Zambezi Gas Mining Company and Zimbabwe Power Company.
The team led by Joe Zulu came up with a ‘Skills Training Report’ which noted the need of technical and non-technical courses by the companies in mining, engineering and management training. The mining school was set to open in the first quarter of 2020. According to the college’s 3 year strategic plan 2020 – 2022, the mining school was to offer short courses to Diploma level.
Speaking at a technical committee meeting at the college’s Salesian community house Don Bosco Technical College director Bruno Zamberlan said then that they were working on this project with the methodology of involvement and participation, taking into consideration the aspirations of the mines in Hwange. “Coordination is needed to plan the curriculum”, said Bruno.
The mining school courses was to include, mine geology, metallurgical courses, electrical engineering, diesel plant fitting, drilling and blasting, project management, SHE and quality control, apprenticeship training and many relevant courses.
Speaking at one of the meeting Fr Bruno said the college is going to build a 300 student cottage. He expressed his gladness with the college bringing a skills related study in mining. “We are going to partner the Zimbabwe School of Mines on skills transfer and lectures. Our objective is for the community to gain education and skills. Don Bosco cannot be a profit based organisation, the money is to sustain studies, and we are not business oriented. Youths cannot afford to go outside Hwange or Matabeleland North province so they will use this opportunity,” said Bruno.
The provisions for this School have been provided by the Salesians of Don Bosco who have also sent the application for the registration of a secondary school which is scheduled to open this year.
According to Father Simba, the Principal of the school, the introduction of the school is aimed at providing quality education that prepares leaners for future careers.
“The introduction of the technical secondary school is aimed at alleviating the problem to a certain extent while also providing quality practical education that prepares the students for future careers by exposing them to a variety of technical skills.” he said.
Meanwhile, Don Bosco Technical College offers a myriad of courses on Information Technology, Human Resources, Clothing Technology, Industrial Clothing Design & Construction, Purchasing & Supply, Marketing and Accounting.
