Can Zimbabwe’s Education System Pass the Fitness for Purpose Test? An Examination of the Education System’s Ability to Address the Unemployment Problem among Educated Youths

Abstract

This study sought to find out if Zimbabwe’s education system met the fitness for purpose test and to examine if the nature of the curricula was not one of the contributory factors to high unemployment among educated youths in Zimbabwe. The study adopted the form of a survey which is in the realms of Scientific Research where questionnaires were used to collect data from the unit of analysis in this study, 955 unemployed educated youths from the country’s ten provinces. The research found out that most of the unemployed educated youths who were respondents thought that the education system was biased towards theory and that practical subjects were taught in a manner which did not inspire students to use the skills after completing school. The study also found out that the education system does not expose students to: entrepreneurial skills, self-employment skills, venture creation skills, technopreneurship skills and project management skills. It was also found out that the education system does not train students how to draw bankable project proposals yet most respondents indicated that they were eager to start their own self-employment venture. The study further established that the range of practical subjects offered in schools is narrow. In light of the findings, this study concludes that Zimbabwe’s education system is not fit for purpose as such it could not pass the fitness for purpose test. The current education system fuels unemployment among educated youths who discover that they are armed with a lot of theory which they cannot deploy to address real life challenges. The study recommends a complete overhaul which would make those who go through the education system enjoy practical work, dignity of labour and self-employment creation as opposed to perpetual job-seeking.