Education remains the power of any modern state.
No doubt, the industrial democracies of today would not have seen the light of day, let alone function, in the absence of educated, trained personnel to run them.
Who would plan the sewer systems? Who would design new products?
It is inherently preposterous to think the world will be where it is today without education.
In 1980, it was clearly envisioned well in advance that the main task of the new and democratic Zimbabwe was in rebuilding a culture having uprooted imperialist ideology and pedagogy in the fields of public education, literature and art, among other areas.
This was to be followed by raising the intellectual level of the entire people to train large numbers of our competent cadres’ education in the democratic spirit for the national economy and state organs.
It is very important at the present moment to train technicians.
In particular, the state should assign capable education people to all set up well-equipped laboratories, produce and provide school supplies for scientific and technical education.
All energies should be concentrated on solving tasks connected with the developing of the national economy.
Literature and art should faithfully serve the purpose of advancing our democratic state.
Let us not forget that throughout the 1980s and 1890s the ministry of education and culture was busy planting deep roots for our education to meet and cater for future needs.
If there are inadequate primary and secondary facilities, then tertiary education will be relegated to base levels.
Up to now, Zimbabwe is one of the countries with educational foundation which are firm, durable and exquisite in quality.
More important, the constant study and evaluation of society which is required if a nation is to remain healthy can be carried on only in the university or any institution of similar rank.
Trained minds are essential for the understanding of where we are and where we are heading. University and colleges of higher learning are badly needed more today than ever before to accelerate response to new problems.
It is the job of the universities to put all issues that matter under the microscope of reason and investigation.
To consign the university to a lesser role would be stupid, to do so, would be to ensure the collapse of this society.
And if free investigation vanishes, then this democracy will also vanish.
If we take away education from society, we would no longer be able to maintain a creative society and fail in our competition with other developed countries.
What happens to ourselves and the community in general?
Our industries would find themselves lagging behind those of the surrounding countries or Africa in general.
Our music and theatre and magazines would begin to wither and what imagination we had on television would vanish.
Public services would begin to falter and there would be no inventions to keep ideas which makes life palatable
Intellectual leadership which a modern society requires would be lacking.
At whatever cost, we need education.
We need intelligence.
We need inspiration and the fire of the young. For if we believe even in the moments of frustration and despair that we can get along without them we are trying to do what no other creative civilisation in history has been able to do; function without trained minds.
By News Editor