SECTOR 4 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.4 (2012 = 1.6; 2010 = 2.0; 2008 = 1.4; 2006 = 1.7) 4.7 Media professionals have access to training facilities offering formal qualification programmes as well as opportunities to upgrade skills. There are a number of institutions that offer media training. However, the quality of this training is of major concern, as entry-level journalists are still viewed as being ill-prepared to effectively carry out their duties. “When it comes to training, there are certain institutions that are churning out people that find their way into newsroom, but aren’t qualified.” One panellist noted that it is not just the media training programmes, but the entire education systems that requires review. “It boils down to the entire education system. We have students that can’t differentiate between they’re, their, and there. That is problematic!” Among others, Harare Polytechnic School of Journalism and Media Studies (which can take up to 30 media students per year) and Christian College of Southern Africa (CCOSA) (up to 60 students per year) offer qualifications in Journalism, while National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and Midlands State University (MSU) provide training in media studies. CCOSA which is now affiliated with the Zimbabwe Open University, self-certifies its programmes. Panellists raised the absence of a certifying board that ensures checks and balances as a major short coming of CCOSA. 60 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2015