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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Relevance of school education to employment: expectations of employers in Harare
Author:Mandebvu, Onward S.ISNI
Year:1996
Periodical:Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research (ISSN 1013-3445)
Volume:8
Issue:1
Period:March
Pages:12-26
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Zimbabwe
Southern Africa
Subjects:employment
vocational education
education
economic development
Labor supply
Harare (Zimbabwe)
Abstract:Most of Zimbabwe's secondary school pupils leave school after four years. During this time they study both practical (technical) and traditional academic subjects. The practical subjects are intended to be a part of general education, although a definite vocational emphasis has now been added with the introduction of the Zimbabwe National Foundation Certificate studies, which are meant to qualify school-leavers for entry-level jobs in such industries as construction, furniture and clothing manufacturing, and metalworking. In order to ascertain whether employers in Zimbabwean commerce and industry are satisfied with the present system of education, how they view school-based vocational training, what attributes they value most in those seeking employment, and whether they favour direct company participation in education, the author conducted a questionnaire survey among 200 business and commercial organizations in the capital, Harare. Analysis of the 88 questionnaires which were returned leads the author to conclude that a significant percentage of the respondents agree that a purely academic education no longer has a place in today's world of work and that the chasm that exists between education and the world of work must be closed. The majority were willing to participate in partnerships between schools and the private sector, amongst others by offering scholarships. Bibliogr., sum.