HARARE- The United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Charles Ray said his country would continue to provide resources to assist in the revival of the countrys education sector.Ray said last Friday that his government would continue to assist the education sector that had collapsed due to political instability.
He was speaking at the occasion to give scholarships worth US$4.5 million to 20 Zimbabweans who will be going to study in different universities in America.
After nine months as President Barack Obamas representative in Zimbabwe, amid daily reports of challenges and uphill battles, it is with hope that I view young, bright, dedicated people like yourselves and your potential to change both my country and this country for the better.
Zimbabwe used to boast the highest literacy rate in Africa and indeed the strongest education system on the continent. Sadly, that system has suffered from the political and economic setbacks of this past decade. Rebuilding education needs to be one of the top priorities of this nation, he said.
Education USA coordinator Rebecca Zeigler-Mano commended the Zimbabwe students who go and study in America. She said: Academically, they (students) have all performed extremely well, and many have worked with professors as teaching assistants or in academic research, especially in Math and Science fields.
Socially, they have been engaged in, and have spearheaded, a wide variety of initiatives clubs, sports, music and dance troupes, community service and leadership activities on campus.
The students had returned home to Zimbabwe to make significant contributions to positive change and development in their home communities.
Fourteen countries were benefitting from the student programme with the US giving 50 students from 11 countries with US$15.2 million worth of scholarships. The other 30 students were drawn from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Malawi, Mongolia, Nigeria, Serbia, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia.
The 20 students from Zimbabwe were selected from over 500 applications from Zimbabwes 10 provinces. A group of 33 upper sixth students were recently selected for the 2010 class after the Embassy reviewed 1000 applications from throughout Zimbabwe.
The students who were awarded scholarships are, Chido Matara (Berea College); Collence Nyazenga (Haverford College); Desmond Rgwaringesu (Reed College); Dresdiana Mavindidze (Amherst College); Elvis Rambanapasi (Quinnipiac College); Esther Saidi (Philander Smith College); Farai Masaira (Jacobs University); Hazel Zengeni ( MIT); Norman Chamusah (College of Wooster); Rudo Mudzi (Mount Holyoke College); Rujeko Chinomona (Georgia College and State University); Rumbidzai Vushe ( Smith College); Senzeni Mpofu (Yale University); Tatenda Mushonga (University of Pennsylvania); Tawanda Chipwanya (Middlebury College); Tendai T. T. Mudyiwa (Kalamazoo College); Thelma Chiremba (Grinnell College); Tinashe Mubvuma (Swarthmore College); Tracy Lukwani (Mount Holyoke College) and Trust Mandevhana (Williams College)- begin their studies in August this year.
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