Zimbabwe: Seeking a Best-Fit Education System

Since its independence, Zimbabwe has developed various education systems that address various post-colonial questions. Still, these education systems have been disputed due to their inadequacy in tackling the real problems that the country faces. The study explores the best-fit education system for Zimbabwe that can respond to the current challenges that the country faces. The study is anchored on the argument that there is a need for an education that revitalizes the economy of Zimbabwe while repositioning the country through its rich heritage and decolonizing the education system by breaking the ceiling glass of research, teaching, and community service of Education 3.0 and adding innovation and industrialization as in Education 5.0. The study used a qualitative approach with a case study research design based on secondary data. The study found that in Zimbabwe, the best-fit education is the education that bridges the knowledge-skills gap by bringing classroom knowledge to the real world of work and bringing about economic prosperity. The study found that the best education system brings a harmonious equilibrium between theory and practice. The study concludes that heritage-based Education 5.0 is the best-fit education for Zimbabwe as it provides a post-colonial narrative of prioritising heritage while enhancing the three colonial education pillars by bringing about industrialisation and innovation. The study recommends collaboration between learning institutions and industry.