New education curriculum guideline out

THE Government has released a detailed guideline on the implementation of a new heritage-based curriculum framework for primary and secondary education, which takes effect next month.

The curriculum is aligned with Vision 2030 and driven by National Development Strategy 1 and 2.

The framework is building on the strengths of the preceding framework 2015 to 2022 and adopting a heritage-based curriculum, focusing on natural endowments such as flora, fauna, water, minerals and human resources, which are unique to Zimbabwe.

The aim is to produce a highly competent learner who has a Zimbabwean outlook and prepare pupils for life and work in an innovation and knowledge-driven economy.

In a circular sent to various stakeholders on Monday, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Moses Mhike, said the underlying principle is an education system that produces goods and services useful to the economy, based on heritage.

He said the country’s education system should be delivered conscious of the environment it seeks to transform, with a mandate of ensuring that pupils acquire skills, values and attitudes for life and work.

Mr Mhike said it integrates and reinforces a strong scientific and technological bias as part of the Government’s skills development strategy.

“To produce a highly competent learner who has a Zimbabwean outlook, the following aims of education will be pursued that is to promote and cherish the Zimbabwean identity, prepare pupils for life and work in an innovation and knowledge-driven economy,” he said.

“It should foster life-long learning and prepare pupils for participatory citizenship, peace and sustainable development. It should also prepare and orient pupils for participatory leadership and voluntary service and strengthening measures to mould the pupils to cherish and practice the Zimbabwean philosophical orientation of Unhu/Ubuntu/Vumunhu.”

Mr Mhike said the task of curriculum implementation requires focused and committed leadership and a teacher fit for purpose.

He said the medium of instruction at the infant school level shall be the indigenous language, which is commonly used or spoken in a particular area as outlined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

The infant school module now consists of six learning areas which are, indigenous language, English Language, Mathematics, Science and Technology; Physical Education, Arts and Social Sciences.

“To avoid any education wastage, the heritage-based curriculum accommodates a two-route progression system as pupils enrol for Form 1. Route one is for those who want to progress to Advanced Level then university,” said Mr Mhike.

“Route two is for those who want to acquire vocational skills for life and work. Route two pupils will follow the Zimbabwe National Qualifications Framework’s skills pathway under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development. They do HEXCO courses, National Foundation Certificate (NFC) at Form 4 and National Certificate (NC) after Form Four using the module.”

Mr Mhike said the curriculum prepares pupils to acquire knowledge, skills, values, attitudes and attributes as a result of their learning experience from Early Childhood Development to Form Six.

“These are the exit profiles denoted by knowledge, skills, values, attitudes and dispositions possessed after learning at any given level in any learning area,” he said.

The framework provides learners with problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, leadership skills, communication and teamwork skills, research skills, innovation skills and technological skills.

Mr Mhike said as part of the route towards implementation of the primary and secondary curriculum, all the 2024 examination classes will continue with the old curriculum and its assessment modalities.

“They will continue with Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (Cala) to complete the assessment cycle and submit to the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec). Non-examination classes will commence school-based projects in May,” he said.

“Each pupil at whatever level will do one project per learning area per year. Grade Six, Forms Three and Five school-based projects will be considered as part of the coursework mark to Zimsec in 2025.”