admin
Gibson Mhaka
THE Cabinet has approved the Implementation Plan for the Heritage-Based Education Curriculum which outlines the framework and timelines for putting the policy into effect.
In a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said the document was presented by the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Professor Amon Murwira, who is Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on Human Capital Development, Skills Application and Employment Creation. Dr Muswere said the Cabinet approved the Heritage-based Education 2024-203 Policy on 27 February 2024.
“This plan seeks to provide the framework and timelines for the implementation of the Policy. Cabinet informs the nation that the Implementation Plan will commence in May 2024 and is anchored on the five main pillars, namely, programmes/ curriculum infrastructure, staffing or workforce infrastructure, physical and digital infrastructure, regulatory and legal infrastructure and the financial infrastructure. In the spirit of leaving no-one and no place behind, a robust monitoring and evaluation system has been appropriately incorporated in the Plan,” said Dr Muswere.
Regarding the implementation of the curriculum or programmes infrastructure, Minister Muswere said Cabinet highlighted 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.
“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 31st May, 2025; and the review of learning area syllabi that is, (rationalization of content in learning areas) commencing 1st October, 2024; and the review of the Assessment Tools by 30th October, 2024.
“Already, continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA) have been rationalised to school-based projects and are to be undertaken at school, while the summative evaluation at Grade 7, O-Level, and Advanced Level has been set at 80 percent summative examinations and 20 percent continuous assessment for purposes of grading and certification, 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”.
Dr Muswere said pertaining to the issue of pathways, learners are categorised accordingly as they enter secondary level, and the projects they pursue for assessment will be according to their areas of interest.
“The pathways, whose learning areas are given in the framework, are Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Visual and Performing Arts; Humanities; Technical/ Vocational Education and Training (TVET); and Commercials. In terms of teacher capacity development, 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. 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,” explained Minister Muswere.
He said to achieve the goals of our education system, the government will undertake a review of the legal and regulatory framework.
“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. 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.
“There will also be continuous harmonisation of the Primary and Secondary Education Curriculum with the Higher Education Curriculum. Education is an investment that requires human, material and financial resources support. Currently, the Treasury has allocated 8 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 Minister Muswere.
Online Reporter