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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
MUTARE Boys High School has been upgraded into a technical and vocational hub following its selection as a provincial pilot school for the new concept which is being rolled out as part of the curriculum review by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The change will see the institution being christened Mutare Boys High School of Metal Technology and Design.
The pilot project is being rolled out in all the country’s 10 provinces.
Under the second phase, each district will identify their own pilot school in a development that will see the country having 92 technical high schools.
Chipinge has already identified Chibuwe High School, while Vengere High School might get the same status in Makoni district.
Other districts across the province are yet to identify prospective pilot schools.
The Education Ministry is working hand-in-glove with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.
All technical high school students will be trade-tested by the Higher Education Examination Council (HEXCO).
Provincial Education Director (PED), Mr Edward Shumba said this will promote acquisition of technical and vocational skills by students, thereby allowing them to fit into the industry and even be employment creators.
“Technical and vocational studies at Mutare Boys High School should have started by now to help the students acquire innovative industrial skills. Funds permitting, all our technical high schools will be identified within the course of the year,” said Mr Shumba.
Speaking during a media engagement workshop last week, the Primary and Secondary Education Ministry’s spokesperson, Mr Taungana Ndoro, said students from these schools will be trade-tested starting from Form 2 (Class Worker Three).
Mr Ndoro said Form 4s will be tested as Class Two Workers, while Form 6s will be tested as Class One Workers.
He said the move is sync with the competence-based curriculum, which is a culmination of a comprehensive review of the national curriculum.
Other schools that have been identified as pilots are Luveve High School (Bulawayo), specialising in aviation studies.
It will be renamed Luveve High School of Aviation Studies.
Harare’s Allan Wilson High School will also specialise in Metal Technology and Design, just like Mutare Boys High School.
Chipindura High School in Mashonaland Central will specialise in Building Technology.
Mashonaland East’s Mutoko High School will tackle Home Management and Design; while Mwenezi Government High School in Masvingo ventures into Building Technology.
Chinhoyi High School (Mashonaland West) will specialise in Technical Graphics.
Mosi-oa-Tunya High (Matabeleland North ) will venture into Textile Technology and Design; while Mzingwane High School (Matebeleland South) specialises in Wood Technology and Design.
Midlands’ Guinea Fowl High School ventures into Food Technology and Design.
Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry, Mrs Tumisang Tabela said technical high schools are in line with both Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy (NDS1).
“The country has taken a new development trajectory through Vision 2030, which is to be realised through the implementation of NDS1. The education sector is expected to contribute towards human capital development and innovation, and it is imperative that the curriculum is configured to fulfil this goal,” said Mrs Tabela.
She added that the holistic competence-driven curriculum equips pupils with relevant knowledge and skills.
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