Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
A DRAFT policy is being crafted by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for Cabinet’s consideration, recommending that subjects like mathematics and physics be taught in vernacular to improve the rate of grasping concepts.
This was said by Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Torerayi Moyo in Senate last week, while responding to a question by Chief Nechombo on what Government was doing to enforce the teaching of the said subjects in local languages.
“At the moment, we do not have such a policy, but we are working on documentation to submit to Cabinet. For such a policy to be put in place, it is supposed to be a directive from the Cabinet,” he said.
Dr Moyo added that Parliament can also make its recommendations to Cabinet for such a policy to be adopted.
“So, if we can get such a recommendation from the Senate and National Assembly, recommending Mathematics to be taught in Shona, Physics be taught in Kalanga or (any other vernacular), that will help them pass,” he said.
“The reason why sometimes they do not pass at 100 percent is that they are taught those subjects in English. Maybe they may not be able to understand that language.
“The reason why in China learners quickly pass is that they are taught in Chinese from Early Childhood Development to university. My request is, may Senators put such a request and recommendations. It will be made as a recommendation for a Bill so that it goes all the way to the President to sign. It is a very brilliant idea and I think that will be a good starting point,” said Dr Moyo.
Presently, the Zimbabwe Early Learning Policy stipulates that in infant education from ECD A up to Grade Two, the language of instruction is the vernacular language.
