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Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE will in January 2017 introduce the envisaged new education curriculum which will equip learners with both academic and vocational technical skills.
This follows successful implementation of a massive pilot project in 100-plus primary and secondary schools between May and September 2016.
The trial involved early childhood learning, Grades One and Three, and Forms One, Three and Five pupils.
Among the participating schools were Prince Edward High (Harare), Eveline High (Bulawayo), St Columbu’s (Mutasa), Chaplin High (Gweru), Avondale Primary (Harare) and Kriste Mambo High (Manicaland).
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora told our Harare Bureau, “We have completed the pilot project, and the feedback we have been receiving shows that it was successful. Therefore, come January 2017, we will roll out the next phase which runs through to 2021.
“Testing the new curriculum was smooth, there were very few hiccups. Everything is now in place. The present curriculum is outdated hence the need to craft this new document.”
The new system has three learning areas — Infants (Early Childhood Development up to Grade Two), Juniors (Grades Three to Seven) and Secondary School. ECD promotes indigenous languages and emphasises foundational learning skills which will then be further developed at Junior School level, providing life and work skills.
The curriculum provides for a Teachers’ Professional Council and psychomotor and life skills training, with special focus on financial and ICT literacy, entrepreneurship, creativity and problem-solving.
It also introduces a new grading system that has Grade Seven final results determined by 50 percent of continuous assessment and national examinations (50 percent).
At Form Four, 40 percent of learners’ grades will be based on theoretical examination, 30 percent practical examination and 30 percent continuous assessment. Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe secretary-general Mr Raymond Majongwe said, “Who would resist a developmental project? We will support it because it is in the best interest of Zimbabweans. But if these things are done under the cover of darkness, it will face resistance and rejection.”
His Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association counterpart, Mr John Mlilo added, “The roll-out of the new curriculum is a welcome development because we participated in the document’s production. The pilot project was successful, but we think it was supposed to be introduced in phases considering that it is capital intensive.”
Online Reporter