Zimbabwean varsities to cut enrolment of humanities and commercials

Zimbabwe’s social media sphere is in overdrive following comments by the government that it would soon order universities to reduce enrolment in social sciences and commercials to address the skyrocketing unemployment rate.

The Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Godfrey Gandawa told the country’s upper house the move would significantly reduce unemployment, the Chronicle reported.

“We are going to direct our universities to reduce the enrolment in terms of social sciences and humanities and increase sciences, engineering and mathematics,” Gandawa reportedly said.

“We’ve a problem of unemployment…emanating from us allowing more students to enrol in commercial and humanities because they do not have science and mathematics. Research and development should be hinged on science and technology,” Gandawa was quoted saying.

The comments did not go down well with the country’s social media citizenry who feel the statement is a misplaced attack on their freedom of academic choice.

The Deputy Minister said humanities and commercials students without Ordinary level or Matric level maths and science subjects are academically challenged and drive-up unemployment.

Gandawa added, “subjects that drive the economy and shape the future of a student must be compulsory…However, to those who are not academically gifted, [arts and commercials] we’re saying after completion of the degree, you don’t have employment”.

Social media users did not take kindly to the comments, with the government taking the flak for the country’s high unemployment rate.

Source: The Chronicle

Tweets in response to the proposal:

@ChronicleZim this is just to cut the number of unemployed learned people, wateva happened to freedom of choice of career????

— J¥ (@BigJeff___) October 10, 2015

@ChronicleZim hehehhe this is crazy,they simply can't dismiss the arts industry just like that!

— Cher💖💖 (@Chermatiza) October 10, 2015

https://twitter.com/deltandou/status/652741829826347008

If numbers shift to sciences and still unemployment rate is high what's next
Reduce Varsity enrollment?? https://t.co/U4Tc0hfVs1

— Bamukuru vaSharo (@Chiraa_Kuda) October 10, 2015

I think they're trying to solve the problem at the wrong end
Create opportunities rather than killing dreams https://t.co/U4Tc0hfVs1

— Bamukuru vaSharo (@Chiraa_Kuda) October 10, 2015

https://twitter.com/deltandou/status/652744755563098112