Simbarashe Mtembo

MIRROR REPORTER

MASVINGO – The second annual three-day National Education Conference and Expo began today at a local Masvingo hotel and will be officially opened by the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Torerai Moyo tomorrow.

NECE is a brain child of Action for Empowerment Zimbabwe (AEZ), an economic empowerment platform with interventions in training and capacity building for different sectors including education.

AEZ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Violet Nkathazo said the conference is being attended by school heads, teachers, school owners, policy makers, Government representatives, legislators and service providers.

She added that Moyo will officially open the NECE tomorrow and they are expecting at least 700 participants drawn from across the country.  

The NECE is running under the theme: Resilience and Reinvention.

Nkathazo said the conference will culminate in a conference paper that will be submitted to the Ministry of Education.

“We are looking at different topical issues in the education sector and today we looked at education and examination governance with guidance from Zimsec. We also looked at issues of child safeguarding, protection of children and creating of safe environments in our schools.

“Other topical issues to be discussed include digital transformation in education and mental health and wellness. We will have cross pollination of ideas and reach a consensus on what we want to lobby from Government. A conference paper will be produced and presented to Government at the end of the conference. At least 300 delegates attended the conference today,” she said.

The NECE is sponsored by TelOne, Zb Financial Holdings and Zimbabwe Sanctuary Insurance Company among others.

Companies exhibiting at the NECE including Econet Wireless, ZB Financial Holdings, TelOne, Akello, AVM buses, Money Mart, Mass Breed, Zimra, AFC Bank, Njere, Old Mutual and Steam Lady.