Education and Religion in Zimbabwe

Churches are a large driving force in the realm of higher education in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe: Zim Churches Move Into Higher Education - allAfrica.com

Featured in the story is Solusi University. In my sprint through their website I got the sense that they have some elearning elements to their school but I didn't look closely.

solusi.ac.zw

 

Zimbabwe - ah yes, Robert Mugabe's beacon of civilization. I'm sure you've heard of him.

If schools in dictator-led countries interest you, perhaps the Grand People's Study House in Pyongyang, North Korea has something to offer. It's undeniably a beautiful building. Here's a pic. It's the country's primary centre for Juche studies. Juche, usually translated "self-reliance" is North Korea's official political ideology.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_People%27s_Study_House

J.

 

If only the Grand People's Study House had distance learning courses open to the public...

 

Yesterday a co-worker and I were floating the idea that maybe North Korea was actually amazing and Denmark was actually a gulag.

It's all in the marketing.

 

Good one! Not much doubt about Zimbabwe, though - or Mr. Mugabe.

(1) Here's a short bio. Among other things, it mentions that he earned U. of London graduate degrees while in jail. I think that's admirable. Some of the rest...not so much, maybe.

Robert Mugabe - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com

(2) Mr. Mugabe is chancellor of one of his country's universities. Here's what happened when the registrar messed up:

If the cap doesn't fit ... you may lose your job, discovers suspended Mugabe official | World news | The Guardian

(3) In total, Mr Mugabe has seven degrees, first graduating from South Africa's University of Fort Hare, where Nelson Mandela studied, with a bachelor of arts. He earned some of his other degrees by distance learning - two of them while he was in prison. He holds degrees in administration, education, science and law. (I believe the two earned in prison were both from U. of London. - J.)

(3) Mr. Mugabe was born in Kutama, a Jesuit mission station. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier College in Kutama and speaks highly of the Jesuit influence of his early years. He is Catholic and managed to attend the funeral of the Pope, while under an E.U. travel ban. (The ban does not extend to the Vatican itself, but it does include Italy.)

(4) A partial quote re: gays, from Mr. Mugabe: "It (gay sex) degrades human dignity. It's unnatural, and there is no question ever of allowing these people to behave worse than dogs and pigs..." Zimbabwe is socially very conservative and his anti-gay comments resonate with many Zimbabweans. Some believe that he encourages anti-gay attitudes in part so that people will blame gays for the country's economic ills, widespread hunger etc.

(5) Mr. Mugabe was awarded a knighthood - I think in 1994, but it has since been withdrawn.

J.

 

Wrong again, J. He attended the Canonization mass for Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, held by Pope Francis. But yes, there was that EU travel ban...

J.

 

Good news! :smile: Juche travels well. People in other countries who have studied Juche with the idea of implementing its principles include:

Indonesian President Sukarno
Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu
The Pol Pot regime in Kampuchea (Cambodia) (Brrrr! Shudder!!!!) :shock:

There are Juche study groups in several countries, including the International Institute of the Juche idea (Japan) and the Korean Friendship Association in Spain.

Long article here, including history and section on Juche in other countries: Juche - New World Encyclopedia
Perhaps Juche is "soon coming to a campus near you." :smile: Or maybe not...

J.

 

Even better news! An old DI quote from me:

"The Swiss site is not the only Juche Study Group outside North Korea. I found them in Australia, England, Malta, Mexico and Ireland - there are probably others...."

They're everywhere! They're everywhere! :shock:

J.