Protocol, Grooming, Deportment and Professional Branding Heads Workshop

80 Heads of Schools and District Inspectors of the Northern Central District: Harare Metropolitan Province benefited from a lively presentation and discussion with Mr V. A Chikanda who delivered a presentation on Protocol, Grooming, Deportment and Professional Branding at the Mandel Training Centre on 19 January 2017.

In his presentation, Mr Chikanda highlighted that teachers are undoubtedly the most significant contributors to education for national development, as a country can truly flourish and prosper with the knowledge imparted by them. Teachers are the main tools and catalyst that advance technical skills in our future leaders. However, Mr Chikanda noted with concern the lack of soft skills training in Zimbabwe’s education curriculum. He challenged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary to include soft skills programmes in both Primary and Secondary Education system. S

Mr Chikanda identified Protocol, Etiquette, Grooming and Deportment training as critical for teacher education as there is a connection between the way one looks and the way one thinks and acts. Without a doubt, teachers are role models for our students, so when teachers dress professionally it sends important messages to students. They teach our students not just about the academic subject, but also how an adult professional looks and behaves thus, they are representatives of the society who inculcates moral precepts and became role models for their students. Students try to follow the teacher’s manners, etiquette, customs and style of communication. Therefore, an incompetent teacher is not only a bad educator but also the signal of a corrupt and incompetent generation and nation at large.

In conclusion, the importance of teachers as a catalyst to societal development and as an architect of our future generation demands not only the most intelligent but also perfectly groomed educators with knowledge of Protocol and Etiquette. For what is a human being without soft skills? Nothing but a mere reasoning savage. It is through good Business Etiquette and Protocol that the savagery in human beings will be removed and revamp our country’s economic fortunes. He recommended that schools avail their staff and pupils with such type of training.

The Institute was invited to make a presentation by Mr M. Mafukidze as directed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango.