Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
GOVERNMENT has outlined the road map towards the implementation of the Heritage-Based Education Curriculum, including the printing and distribution of educational material by the end of next month.
Cabinet adopted the Heritage Based Education Curriculum in February for primary and secondary education as part of the initiatives to produce pupils with skills to solve problems.
The implementation of the new curriculum commenced when schools opened for the second term.
Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira, who is also the Cabinet Committee chairperson on Human Capital Development, Skills Application and Employment Creation presented the Heritage Based Curriculum implementation plan before Cabinet leading to its adoption, yesterday.
In his post Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the implementation plan covers programmes or curriculum infrastructure, staffing or workforce infrastructure, physical and digital infrastructure, regulatory and legal infrastructure and financial infrastructure. He said the Government has also come up with a robust monitoring and evaluation system for the implementation plan as part of the efforts of leaving no one and no place behind.
“Regarding the implementation of the curriculum or programme infrastructure, the Cabinet wishes to highlight that the implementation plan for the Heritage-Based Education 2024-2030 Curriculum Framework provides guidance in the delivery of a coherent and inclusive quality primary and secondary education,” said Dr Muswere.
“This includes the printing and distribution of the curriculum documents by 30 June 2024; unpacking of the Heritage-Based Curriculum Framework, which is ongoing up to 31 May 2025; and the review of learning area syllabi that is, rationalisation of content in learning areas commencing on the 1st October 2024; and the review of the assessment tools by 30 October 2024.”
Dr Muswere said Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (Cala) will now be school-based and should be done within the learning institutions unlike what was obtained on the ground where parents and guardians were forced to do tasks for learners.
He said exclusive summative evaluations will only be done at Grade Seven and Form Four levels. For pupils in Advanced Level, 80 percent will be summative examinations while 20 percent will be continuous assessment for grading and certification purposes in line with what is prevailing at institutions of higher learning in the country.
“The assessment of non-formal learners shall follow that of the mainstream regimen with the continuous assessment marks having a shelf life of three years,” said Dr Muswere.
He said science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem), visual and performing arts, humanities, technical/ vocational education and training (TVET) and commercials will be the career pathways for learners.
Dr Muswere said the Government is conducting an ongoing teacher capacity development so that educators have full comprehension of what is expected of them in delivering heritage-based education.
“The Ministry will roll out the unpacking of the curriculum and syllabi to teachers through workshops, circulars and various media for the rationalised learning areas as well as the implementation modalities by 31st December 2024,” he said.
“Provision of adequate and appropriate infrastructure will continue, including classrooms; workshops; laboratories; internet connectivity; technical equipment; and teachers’ houses, in order to achieve the intended goals by 2030.”
Dr Muswere said to successfully implement the new curriculum, legal and regulations infrastructure will be undertaken.
“This shall include establishing a participatory structure for continuous Heritage-Based education refinements, such as the establishment of learning area associations and panels at school, district, provincial and national levels by 31st July 2025,” he said.
“Particular focus will be on checking for compliance in the implementation of the curriculum through monitoring and evaluation that promotes strengthening school-based continuous assessment and documentation of best practices, which is currently ongoing to 31st December 2030.”
Dr Muswere said there will be a synchronisation and harmonisation of the primary and secondary education curriculum with the higher education curriculum.
He said the Government will continue to commit financial resources towards the country’s education sector.
“Education is an investment that requires human, material and financial resources support. Currently, the Treasury has allocated eight percent of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Budget towards the Heritage-Based Education Curriculum 2024-2030 and shall continue to support the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in achieving the goals of this transformation,” said Dr Muswere. —@nqotshili
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