Beitbridge NASSAF puts learner innovation and literacy in the spotlight

Learners from across Zimbabwe used the 2026 National Annual Science, Sport and Arts Festival to present practical projects, creative work and ideas linked to everyday community needs in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South.

The three-day National Annual Science, Sport and Arts Festival, known as NASSAF, concluded on Thursday, September 24, 2026. ZBC News reported that thousands of participants attended the event, which included both formal and non-formal learners. (zbcnews.co.zw)

From classroom knowledge to practical ideas

The festival was presented as a platform for learners to demonstrate how knowledge gained through Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum could be applied beyond the classroom. Learners interviewed by ZBC said their work could help them develop skills for self-employment and contribute to their communities. (zbcnews.co.zw)

A separate report from Ziyah News Network said the exhibition tour was held jointly at Oakleigh House Trust School and St Mary’s High School. It reported that students displayed innovations from different provinces, including products made through plastic recycling. (ziyahnews.co.zw)

The event also incorporated belated International Literacy Day activities. Learners told ZBC that the programme helped them reflect on the importance of literacy in communication, education and community development. (zbcnews.co.zw)

Officials call for support beyond the exhibition

Moses Mhike, the Permanent Secretary for Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, said NASSAF should help learners connect education with practical solutions and economic activity. His remarks, as reported by ZBC, included an emphasis on linking economic development with environmental protection. (zbcnews.co.zw)

Ziyah News Network reported that Mhike also identified the development of student prototypes into more practical products as a next step. That is an expectation expressed by the official; the available reports do not establish a funding commitment, implementation timetable or list of projects selected for further support. (ziyahnews.co.zw)

Earlier provincial preparations showed the scale of the selection process. The Herald reported in August that 1,019 learners took part in the Matabeleland South provincial festival, with 140 selected to represent the province at NASSAF. The same report said learners presented robotics prototypes, science experiments, visual art, sport and cultural performances. (heraldonline.co.zw)

The Beitbridge festival therefore served both as a national showcase and as a test of whether school-based innovation can move into sustained mentorship, production and livelihood opportunities. The immediate question is whether the ideas exhibited in Beitbridge will receive the technical, institutional and financial support needed to progress beyond competition displays.

What to watch: any formal support programme for learner prototypes; announcements on mentorship or partnerships with industry and tertiary institutions; and the publication of results or follow-up activities from NASSAF 2026.

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