Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE Heritage-Based Curriculum (HBC) remains compulsory for all learners in Zimbabwe, with Government yesterday dismissing suggestions that pupils can choose between the local curriculum and international curricula such as Cambridge.
The clarification follows a statement by Cambridge University Press and Assessment indicating that discussions with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC), school associations and other stakeholders had established that learners would continue to have a choice of curriculum and would not be required to take both local and international curricula.
However, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said Cambridge’s interpretation did not reflect Government policy.
Ministry Director of Communications and Advocacy Mr Taungana Ndoro said there was no choice of curriculum in Zimbabwe, as all learners are required to follow the Heritage-Based Curriculum.
“The Heritage-Based Curriculum is mandatory for all pupils in Zimbabwe. This position has not changed and will not be altered by any engagements with external examination bodies,” he said.
Mr Ndoro said all schools are required to implement the Heritage-Based Curriculum and that the first national examinations under the framework will be administered in 2028.
He added that ZIMSEC would become the sole examination body for all national examinations beginning in 2027.
While Government is not banning Cambridge or any other international examination board, Mr Ndoro said such qualifications would only serve as supplementary credentials.
“Pupils may voluntarily sit for Cambridge examinations as an additional qualification, a supplementary one, but this does not replace or exempt them from the mandatory HBC and ZIMSEC-administered national examinations,” he said.
Mr Ndoro said any suggestion that learners had a choice between curricula was “incorrect and misleading” and did not reflect Government policy.
He, however, said Government remained open to dialogue with Cambridge and other international examination bodies on ways international qualifications could complement the national curriculum without replacing it.
Earlier, Cambridge University Press and Assessment said recent engagements with education stakeholders had provided clarity on the implementation of Zimbabwe’s curriculum framework.
Cambridge managing director for Sub-Saharan Africa Ms Louise Hendey said discussions had established that learners would not be required to take both local and international curricula.
“Through these discussions, the Ministry clarified that learners will continue to have choice of curriculum and will not be expected to take both local and international curricula,” she said.
Ms Hendey also announced plans to work with ZIMSEC on a structured review of the Heritage-Based Curriculum to explore how elements of Zimbabwean heritage could be incorporated into Cambridge qualifications.
“Our next step is to work with ZIMSEC on a structured review of the Heritage-Based Curriculum,” she said.
“This review will focus on where and how Zimbabwean history, heritage studies and selected indigenous languages could appropriately supplement selected areas of Cambridge qualifications, while maintaining the quality standards, academic expectations and international recognition associated with Cambridge.”
Ms Hendey said there would be no immediate changes to Cambridge programmes, syllabuses, teaching plans or examinations while the review process was underway.
The latest developments come as Government accelerates implementation of the Heritage-Based Curriculum, which seeks to align education with Zimbabwe’s history, culture and national development aspirations while equipping learners with competencies required in the modern world.
