I visited the Harare Polytechnic over two days after I had heard that the Graphic Arts department had been scrapped. I was happy to see that was not the case. And went about finding out the state of the programme. Apparently the course is now structured in such a way that it is difficult to FAIL!
Entrance to the Harare Polytechnic
I managed to see a few life drawing pictures. I was one of the weakest at life drawing in our class but what I saw of the final years would not have made the grade at first year. This was an introduction to what was going to be a disappointing and some what depressing revelation of the state of affairs at the once illustrious Polytechnic
Final year life drawing…
Entry Requirements
The most disappointing thing about the art programme at the Polytechnic was the relaxing of the entry requirements. Before it was necessary for a prospective student to present a portfolio of their work. Then these would be screened. All successful candidates would have to come through for an interview where they had to do a drawing test and then a verbal interview. Only when you have passed would you get a place. Now all that has been scrapped. And the art department plays no part in recruiting or screening students for the course.
Corridor entering the art department
Graduates
This year the final class has 8 people in it. the class started off with 16 students. 10 boys and 6 girls. Now only three girls with one repeating because she fell pregnant and the other came back from the internship and decided to repeat. Some of the boys are repeating and some have dropped out completely.
The ceramics studio with some work on the shelves
Design For Print
The design for print programme is now 4 years with one full year left for internship. During that year you pay your normal fees and you have a log book which you have to fill in at the end of each week, detailing the projects you worked on through out the week. While there you are assigned a supervisor and lecturers from the college come through to assess your progress, going through the log book. They also sit with the supervisor to gauge progress. At the end of the year the student writes a report on their internship.
View of the ceramics studio from the courtyard
Computers
There are about 10 computers in the lab all PCs and they are working in Corel Draw, which is quite sad as this is hardly industry standard. But credit is due to the department as the computers are in good condition running on Windows 8 and have 21″ flat screen monitors. The students are also starting computers in the first year as opposed to the second year.
One of the lecture rooms for design
Lecturers
There are currently four lecturers in the department with some majoring in fine art and some who are not even qualified designers!
New ID cards, which you cannot swipe to access entry etc.
Assignments and assessments
The shocking revelation I learnt was that there are no longer critiques on work. During the time that we studied on the day an assignment was due, the first thing when we came into class was to put all the work up. Each student would speak about their work and then the floor would be opened for critique from the rest of the class.
I found this to be of great benefit in maintaining the standard of work, creating healthy competition and drawing insights from a pool of other designers. Course work now consists of 6 assignments throughout the term. Life drawing is no longer a mandatory course and is dropped in the final year.
The court yard where students catch some sun during breaks
National Exams
Each year there are now national exams in 5 subjects – Project, GD Theory, GD Practical, Exhibition design (3D studies), Object Drawing, Print making.
The print making studio
Digital Photography
The students also do basic digital photography which is definitely a bonus and commendable that the college see it as a necessary part of the programme
Final year life drawings…
Conclusion
Maybe its some consolation that the department even exists. The colleges’ attitude towards the graphics department portrays exactly how the government views the arts in Zimbabwe. Entering the programme without a portfolio and lowering the standard of entry.
This is also going to kill the industry at large as each year more and more incompetent college leavers are coming out of college with diplomas in graphic design but with really no idea or the skill that would be required of a person with a four year diploma.
Life Drawing studio
When we left in 2006 we had started the process of updating the curriculum and we had proposed to change the name of the course as it was also outdated together with the curriculum. Do agencies and design studios have any responsibility because they will be the beneficiaries of well rounded students.
What role can they play if any? Having lectured at the Poly at one stage, I would hate to be a lecturer there now with these very lax standards and entry requirements. But I give full credit to the lecturers who are there who are putting in the hard yards and their time.
I would love to go back and do a couple of seminars with the students. This article just gave me that push. I really feel sorry for the students as they have been forced into a chaotic system without knowing. Thumbs up to the lecturers for their tenacity to still try and hold everything together.
One problem was ZIMDollar! Students and lecturers dropped that college to BACOS Black Market to earn money quickly, that was in 2008. Very difficult to go back to college with NO MONEY as they don’t complain it anymore. This writer, Baynham Goredema, should report to Ministry of Education not us as guests. I cannot help myself. Formerly Hre Poly Radz
One problem was ZIMDollar! Students and lecturers dropped that college to BACOS Black Market to earn money quickly, that was in 2008. Very difficult to go back to college with NO MONEY as they don’t complain it anymore. This writer, Baynham Goredema, should report to Ministry of Education not us as guests. I cannot help myself. Formerly Hre Poly Radz
Oh Dear
Oh Dear
I would love to go back and do a couple of seminars with the students. This article just gave me that push. I really feel sorry for the students as they have been forced into a chaotic system without knowing. Thumbs up to the lecturers for their tenacity to still try and hold everything together.
I would love to go back and do a couple of seminars with the students. This article just gave me that push. I really feel sorry for the students as they have been forced into a chaotic system without knowing. Thumbs up to the lecturers for their tenacity to still try and hold everything together.
Your post is almost 50 % accurate. I didnt see any mention of where exactly you got this information from though. But i caould sense that there are some aspect you probably missed or they were not fully explained to you.
Your post is almost 50 % accurate. I didnt see any mention of where exactly you got this information from though. But i caould sense that there are some aspect you probably missed or they were not fully explained to you.
The final year life drawings you have uploaded are a lie this is not final year drawings you should research more before you comment. Your main aim here is to tarnish the image of the art department and get your blog recognition this is sad… However reads this story do not believe what is written for this all false and a sign of desperation for attention which is sad… I
Hi Tapiwa
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I have no intention of tarnishing the image of the art department. It was a comparison between what the department was like when I was there and what it is now. But I won’t delve further into that. What I can do is give you the opportunity right here on this blog as a guest to set the record straight and give our readers the picture that is there. Also send pictures as well. Send to Bgoredema@gmail.com. I wait to hear from you.
Haa vakuru, 1998 takapinda ne madrawings like this. Things hv changed a great deal. The economy has tarnished the Art dept image not students. We pay money to be taught the right way cz out there in design world is a jungle of competition, CRITICS, new stuff etc. and if they hv lowered the intake criteria, those alumni are going to see fire from Customers….
The final year life drawings you have uploaded are a lie this is not final year drawings you should research more before you comment. Your main aim here is to tarnish the image of the art department and get your blog recognition this is sad… However reads this story do not believe what is written for this all false and a sign of desperation for attention which is sad… I
Hi Tapiwa
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I have no intention of tarnishing the image of the art department. It was a comparison between what the department was like when I was there and what it is now. But I won’t delve further into that. What I can do is give you the opportunity right here on this blog as a guest to set the record straight and give our readers the picture that is there. Also send pictures as well. Send to Bgoredema@gmail.com. I wait to hear from you.
Haa vakuru, 1998 takapinda ne madrawings like this. Things hv changed a great deal. The economy has tarnished the Art dept image not students. We pay money to be taught the right way cz out there in design world is a jungle of competition, CRITICS, new stuff etc. and if they hv lowered the intake criteria, those alumni are going to see fire from Customers….
i know Mr goredema, he forgot to tell us that as a lecturer in the same department he never submitted any marks or tests for his charges while there.Most lecturers at that time did not follow the syllabus but stumbled through the course blindly. All developments he talks about were done to improve and gauge how a student performs in order to develop and improve them, if one does not perform they are out. As for portfolios, the department had to widen its studentship to include rural and so-called group B schools where art is not taught. Recruitment is the sole responsibility of the department lecturers, therefore it is a lie to say they are not involved. The basic requirement is 5 O-level passes and your art portfolio or artefacts. The nicely decorated portfolios he talks about are not done in the rural schools, remember there is a general belief in the country that art and design is for urban and learned folks only. The old syllabus only talked about western art only no african or zimbabwean was talked about. The improvement of the syllabus is done in consultation with industry and all interested parties-it is not solely left to the lecturers only. As for coreldraw being used by the students, he has to explain to us what the industry standard is-remember specific software for a specific task.They have Indesign, freehand, photoshop, illustrator, quarkxpress, pagemaker etc at the poly, the students choose what they like. WYSIWYG. i am disappointed by his contribution which i believe is an attempt to tarnish the department, Harare Polytechnic and tertiary education in the country. It is really sad that someone trained by the same department where they were using 2 computers among 20 students in their time as opposed to the current ratio of 1 computer for 1 student can stoop so low, very sad indeed.
Ba Tafi! Thanks for dropping by to give your contribution. I appreciate
it much! I will certainly respond to your comment. But I want to also
give you this opportunity so that the record is set straight on the same
platform that has ‘tarnished’ the image of the Poly. I Invite you to
write an article which can be published here setting the facts straight
and some images as well and dispelling any misconceptions or false
accusations or it can be entirely a promotional piece which does not
reference this post directly. Send to Bgoredema@gmail.com
i know Mr goredema, he forgot to tell us that as a lecturer in the same department he never submitted any marks or tests for his charges while there.Most lecturers at that time did not follow the syllabus but stumbled through the course blindly. All developments he talks about were done to improve and gauge how a student performs in order to develop and improve them, if one does not perform they are out. As for portfolios, the department had to widen its studentship to include rural and so-called group B schools where art is not taught. Recruitment is the sole responsibility of the department lecturers, therefore it is a lie to say they are not involved. The basic requirement is 5 O-level passes and your art portfolio or artefacts. The nicely decorated portfolios he talks about are not done in the rural schools, remember there is a general belief in the country that art and design is for urban and learned folks only. The old syllabus only talked about western art only no african or zimbabwean was talked about. The improvement of the syllabus is done in consultation with industry and all interested parties-it is not solely left to the lecturers only. As for coreldraw being used by the students, he has to explain to us what the industry standard is-remember specific software for a specific task.They have Indesign, freehand, photoshop, illustrator, quarkxpress, pagemaker etc at the poly, the students choose what they like. WYSIWYG. i am disappointed by his contribution which i believe is an attempt to tarnish the department, Harare Polytechnic and tertiary education in the country. It is really sad that someone trained by the same department where they were using 2 computers among 20 students in their time as opposed to the current ratio of 1 computer for 1 student can stoop so low, very sad indeed.
Ba Tafi! Thanks for dropping by to give your contribution. I appreciate
it much! I will certainly respond to your comment. But I want to also
give you this opportunity so that the record is set straight on the same
platform that has ‘tarnished’ the image of the Poly. I Invite you to
write an article which can be published here setting the facts straight
and some images as well and dispelling any misconceptions or false
accusations or it can be entirely a promotional piece which does not
reference this post directly. Send to Bgoredema@gmail.com
i know Mr goredema, he forgot to tell us that as a lecturer in the same department he never submitted any marks or tests for his charges while there.Most lecturers at that time did not follow the syllabus but stumbled through the course blindly. All developments he talks about were done to improve and gauge how a student performs in order to develop and improve them, if one does not perform they are out. As for portfolios, the department had to widen its studentship to include rural and so-called group B schools where art is not taught. Recruitment is the sole responsibility of the department lecturers, therefore it is a lie to say they are not involved. The basic requirement is 5 O-level passes and your art portfolio or artefacts. The nicely decorated portfolios he talks about are not done in the rural schools, remember there is a general belief in the country that art and design is for urban and learned folks only. The old syllabus only talked about western art only no african or zimbabwean was talked about. The improvement of the syllabus is done in consultation with industry and all interested parties-it is not solely left to the lecturers only. As for coreldraw being used by the students, he has to explain to us what the industry standard is-remember specific software for a specific task.They have Indesign, freehand, photoshop, illustrator, quarkxpress, pagemaker etc at the poly, the students choose what they like. WYSIWYG. i am disappointed by his contribution which i believe is an attempt to tarnish the department, Harare Polytechnic and tertiary education in the country. It is really sad that someone trained by the same department where they were using 2 computers among 20 students in their time as opposed to the current ratio of 1 computer for 1 student can stoop so low, very sad indeed.
Ba Tafi! Thanks for dropping by to give your contribution. I appreciate
it much! I will certainly respond to your comment. But I want to also
give you this opportunity so that the record is set straight on the same
platform that has ‘tarnished’ the image of the Poly. I Invite you to
write an article which can be published here setting the facts straight
and some images as well and dispelling any misconceptions or false
accusations or it can be entirely a promotional piece which does not
reference this post directly. Send to Bgoredema@gmail.com
One problem was ZIMDollar! Students and lecturers dropped that college to BACOS Black Market to earn money quickly, that was in 2008. Very difficult to go back to college with NO MONEY as they don’t complain it anymore. This writer, Baynham Goredema, should report to Ministry of Education not us as guests. I cannot help myself. Formerly Hre Poly Radz
Your post is almost 50 % accurate. I didnt see any mention of where exactly you got this information from though. But i caould sense that there are some aspect you probably missed or they were not fully explained to you.
i know Mr goredema, he forgot to tell us that as a lecturer in the same department he never submitted any marks or tests for his charges while there.Most lecturers at that time did not follow the syllabus but stumbled through the course blindly. All developments he talks about were done to improve and gauge how a student performs in order to develop and improve them, if one does not perform they are out. As for portfolios, the department had to widen its studentship to include rural and so-called group B schools where art is not taught. Recruitment is the sole responsibility of the department lecturers, therefore it is a lie to say they are not involved. The basic requirement is 5 O-level passes and your art portfolio or artefacts. The nicely decorated portfolios he talks about are not done in the rural schools, remember there is a general belief in the country that art and design is for urban and learned folks only. The old syllabus only talked about western art only no african or zimbabwean was talked about. The improvement of the syllabus is done in consultation with industry and all interested parties-it is not solely left to the lecturers only. As for coreldraw being used by the students, he has to explain to us what the industry standard is-remember specific software for a specific task.They have Indesign, freehand, photoshop, illustrator, quarkxpress, pagemaker etc at the poly, the students choose what they like. WYSIWYG. i am disappointed by his contribution which i believe is an attempt to tarnish the department, Harare Polytechnic and tertiary education in the country. It is really sad that someone trained by the same department where they were using 2 computers among 20 students in their time as opposed to the current ratio of 1 computer for 1 student can stoop so low, very sad indeed.
Ba Tafi! Thanks for dropping by to give your contribution. I appreciate
it much! I will certainly respond to your comment. But I want to also
give you this opportunity so that the record is set straight on the same
platform that has ‘tarnished’ the image of the Poly. I Invite you to
write an article which can be published here setting the facts straight
and some images as well and dispelling any misconceptions or false
accusations or it can be entirely a promotional piece which does not
reference this post directly. Send to Bgoredema@gmail.com
The final year life drawings you have uploaded are a lie this is not final year drawings you should research more before you comment. Your main aim here is to tarnish the image of the art department and get your blog recognition this is sad… However reads this story do not believe what is written for this all false and a sign of desperation for attention which is sad… I
Hi Tapiwa
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I have no intention of tarnishing the image of the art department. It was a comparison between what the department was like when I was there and what it is now. But I won’t delve further into that. What I can do is give you the opportunity right here on this blog as a guest to set the record straight and give our readers the picture that is there. Also send pictures as well. Send to Bgoredema@gmail.com. I wait to hear from you.
Oh Dear
One problem was ZIMDollar! Students and lecturers dropped that college to BACOS Black Market to earn money quickly, that was in 2008. Very difficult to go back to college with NO MONEY as they don’t complain it anymore. This writer, Baynham Goredema, should report to Ministry of Education not us as guests. I cannot help myself. Formerly Hre Poly Radz
The final year life drawings you have uploaded are a lie this is not final year drawings you should research more before you comment. Your main aim here is to tarnish the image of the art department and get your blog recognition this is sad… However reads this story do not believe what is written for this all false and a sign of desperation for attention which is sad… I
Haa vakuru, 1998 takapinda ne madrawings like this. Things hv changed a great deal. The economy has tarnished the Art dept image not students. We pay money to be taught the right way cz out there in design world is a jungle of competition, CRITICS, new stuff etc. and if they hv lowered the intake criteria, those alumni are going to see fire from Customers….
Hi Tapiwa
Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I have no intention of tarnishing the image of the art department. It was a comparison between what the department was like when I was there and what it is now. But I won’t delve further into that. What I can do is give you the opportunity right here on this blog as a guest to set the record straight and give our readers the picture that is there. Also send pictures as well. Send to Bgoredema@gmail.com. I wait to hear from you.
Your post is almost 50 % accurate. I didnt see any mention of where exactly you got this information from though. But i caould sense that there are some aspect you probably missed or they were not fully explained to you.
Oh Dear
I would love to go back and do a couple of seminars with the students. This article just gave me that push. I really feel sorry for the students as they have been forced into a chaotic system without knowing. Thumbs up to the lecturers for their tenacity to still try and hold everything together.