New education policy on the cards

GOVERNMENT is implementing a new policy aimed at improving the quality of education by mandating that all schools, including satellite institutions with enrolments exceeding 280 pupils, must have substantive heads and deputy heads.

The initiative seeks to ensure that schools have dedicated leadership to oversee educational standards and management effectively, contributing to better outcomes for learners.

Speaking during the National Association of Secondary Heads (Nash) conference in Victoria Falls recently, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerai Moyo said school heads are key in the implementation of the Heritage-Based curriculum. He said they will be trained to fully understand, unpack and supervise its implementation in the school system.

Minister Moyo said the policy by his predecessors stipulating that schools with less than 600 learners cannot have a substantive deputy head was a mistake that needs to be corrected.

“We want our schools with a minimum of 280 students to have a substantive headmaster. All headmasters, if we are going to agree, should be non-teaching so that you concentrate on administrative responsibilities and areas of jurisdiction,” he said.

“Satellite schools also deserve to have substantive headmasters. So, we are going to push so that before year-end we will have adopted this policy of having substantive deputy heads in our schools.”

Minister Moyo said his ministry had since approached the Public Service Commission with the proposal to change the policy. He said he expects the new policy to be in place before the end of the year.

“There is an issue that was raised by Nash. That issue came from my office where we informed the Public Service Commission that for one to be a substantive deputy head the enrolment must be 601. That was done by my predecessor and I am sorry for that,” he said.

“We have since approached the Public Service Commission to reverse the request that was made by our predecessors.”

Minister Moyo said his office would quickly address the issue without delay to avoid disadvantaging school heads who are playing a very important role in the Ministry.

There are many schools countrywide with enrolment above 400 pupils but without substantive deputy heads while almost all satellite schools have no substantive heads.

Minister Moyo also gave an update on the Teaching Professional Council Bill, which he said is in the Attorney General’s Office and will be presented in Parliament soon after going through the Cabinet Committee.

In principle, the Teaching Professional Council will help raise the morale of teachers and members will be drawn from professional members of the teaching field, which has since been consulted.

Minister Moyo said the ministry remains grateful and supportive to the management of schools by heads.

He said they are focusing on its curriculum as a major tool and strengthening learner support services to ensure that schools are safe learning spaces for full implementation of Zimbabwe School Health Policy and the growth of pupils into their optimal level under the Heritage Based Curriculum.

He challenged school heads to enhance their computer skills, which is a major thrust of Heritage Based curriculum. Minister Moyo said training workshops will be rolled out to enhance implementation and support for the curriculum.

“I want to commend you headmasters for ensuring that you inculcate skills in our learners who we have seen doing wonderful presentations. You remain instrumental in shaping the quality of education as provided to pupils and you are key figures in driving educational outcomes and success,” said Minister Moyo.

“As managers responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of secondary schools, managing staff, ensuring the implementation of educational policies and fostering a conducive learning environment for pupils.”

Minister Moyo said school heads are a critical cog in the ministry’s sphere of influence.

“We want to inculcate skills, innovation and research for learners to identify career paths and skills so they can address their challenges. Now that the heritage-based curriculum has come on board, I call upon all of us to embrace it and ensure its full implementation in schools,” he said.

“While the ministry is still to fill quite several inspectorate posts, there is a big role that the heads of schools should and can play in strengthening the quality of their internal supervision at school level.”

Minister Moyo said the education system seeks to encourage learners to fully embrace technical vocational education.

“As we supervise the quality of teaching and learning ensuring that teachers are providing quality teaching and learning experiences to our pupils, we are playing our role in preventing substance and drug abuse,” he said.

“This is because well-occupied pupils receiving professional services from their teachers tend to behave well and would quickly seek help if tempted or exposed to the dangers of harmful drugs and substances.”

The conference was held under the theme: “Drug and substance abuse: the head as a front-line leader.”—@ncubeleon