$10m for schools tooling

Locadia Mavhudzi, Midlands Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has injected $10 million towards the procurement of teaching and learning materials for primary and secondary schools in line with the new competence-based curriculum.

In an interview on the sidelines of the annual Permanent Secretary Merit Awards which saw Thornhill High School of Gweru being crowned the 2017 provincial winners yesterday- Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Dr Sylvia Utete Masango said the tooling exercise is addressing critical technological needs as the new curriculum is very particular about the teaching and learning of science and technology.

Thornhill High School benefited through the setting up of a typical smart classroom where 45 laptop computers were installed.

“Government has injected $10 million to support the new curriculum. We are now in the process of equipping schools and training teachers on the new learning areas that have been incorporated by the new curriculum. We are procuring mobile science laboratories for primary schools and secondary schools.
We have also partnered with information communication technology provider Telone to provide internet services for our schools,” she said.

Dr Utete Masango said all rural and urban secondary schools are expected to have a basic science lab adding that Government is cognisant that some rural schools have been lagging behind in terms of access to modern laboratory equipment.

“We expect that all schools that offer ordinary level education are equipped in terms of access to modern science labs hence we are starting off with a mobile lab platform but the long term plan is to equip teachers and learners with a modern education platform,” she said.

Dr Utete Masango said while her ministry recognises the teacher shortage in the country, they are currently scrutinising the critical areas where expert teachers can be placed.

“Yes, teacher shortage is there but we are currently looking at gaps in the areas of science, mathematics and technology and we will give preference to such experts when we deploy. The new political administration is cognisant of the need to transform the nation into a middle class economy by 2030 and the role of teachers and learners cannot be over emphasised,” said the Permanent Secretary.

Dr Utete Masango said Government has also rolled out a massive training programme to capacitate the teachers across the country on the dictates of the new curriculum.