Dokora to scrap Integrated Science

Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
THE government is planning to scrap Integrated Science from the curriculum and replace it with General Science, while Agriculture would be examinable from primary school right up to Advanced Level. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Lazarus Dokora yesterday said the new education curriculum for primary and secondary education would kick-in this year, once it is adopted by teachers and parents.

Dokora was unpacking the new draft curriculum code “The Zimbabwe Education Blueprint” at Mkoba Teachers’ College in Gweru where he was officiating at the Seventh Day Adventist Church Schools Teachers’ Conference.

He said if adopted, the new education blueprint would be implemented starting this year until 2022.

“Integrated Science is a basic introduction to sciences, hence there is need to go deeper which will entail the reintroduction of General Science in its place,” Dokora said.

“We’re removing Integrated Science for a very good reason. The subject was initially designed just to give kids an introduction into sciences and it ended up being considered a standard science which is not correct.”

Dokora said they had given all secondary schools science kits which should be in good working condition for the next three to four years.

He said Agriculture would now be introduced as an examinable subject at primary level right up to Advanced Level.

Turning to schools’ infrastructure, Dokora said the country has a shortfall of 2,056 schools.

He said a programme of action has been put in motion to build new schools through public-private partnerships.

“In 2013 we embarked on an education infrastructure audit exercise and the findings showed that there’re 2,056 schools which are required. As a result of the economic challenges which we’re facing, the government alone can’t deliver such infrastructure, hence we’re calling on churches and companies to come on board and assist government in this regard,” he said.

Dokora said in the next few weeks his ministry would float tenders for companies to come forward and partner government in the construction of schools.

“We will work out terms on a repayment plan on a win-win basis,” he said.

Dokora said in light of the schools shortage, there was need to reintroduce the building fund which existed in the 1980s when communities built schools in their localities and individuals were paid a stipend.

He said it was as a result of such initiatives through President Robert Mugabe’s vision that the country has the highest literacy rate in Africa.