Online Reporter
Angeline Gata
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is ready for the opening of schools for the second term.
As initially indicated on the calendar, schools are opening on May 13, 2025.
We have not issued any school calendar deviation to the contrary.
The ministry is going to issue a general statement in connection with the reopening of schools.
All school administrators, parents, teachers and other stakeholders are encouraged to make their final touches in good time as they facilitate the return of all children to their schools to begin their lessons from May 13, 2025 until August 7, 2025, which will mark the end of term two.
We have done preparations, including staff meetings.
This is where they do their term plan, which includes their sporting calendars, the pre-meetings about where they are in their syllabus and what they need to cover.
So, we normally do that a week prior to opening of schools.
We really have done that and some kind of teacher development.
This is equipping them with the information on what we are going to do that particular term — if there is anything that we need to revisit, sort of a post-mortem from our first term, going into the second term, what we need to strengthen, what we need to change and strategising.
We are ready for opening of schools.
New curriculum rollout
We rolled out the heritage-based curriculum at the beginning of this year.
All the necessary documents, such as the curriculum framework and the syllabi, are in place.
Teachers underwent staff development on the heritage-based curriculum across all the 10 provinces.
We are glad that all went on well, in line with our road map.
So, yes, we are really confident, and it has been well-received, the heritage-based curriculum.
Like I indicated that it is a continuous curriculum, like a strengthened curriculum.
Schools already have some of the requisite learning materials.
However, there are some areas that we need to fine-tune, such as our textbooks.
Some of them are, however, on the internet, on the e-learning portal on our website.
So, yes, we are well-prepared on that.
The heritage-based curriculum was a review of the competence-based curriculum, which was in place for seven years.
During the era of the competence-based curriculum, various teaching and learning materials were developed.
These materials are already in schools, and the greater part of these materials is still usable under the new regime.
However, only a few areas need fine-tuning, and that is being done by our curriculum development technical services together with our stakeholders, such as book publishers.
Teacher capacitation
Like I said, capacity development workshops were carried out across provinces and in all districts of Zimbabwe during the greater part of the first term.
All teachers are now aware of the demands of the heritage-based curriculum and the accompanying syllabi that were developed.
We are glad that we have not experienced any glitches in terms of implementation.
There is, however, need for additional support in terms of the teaching and learning materials.
The current pupil-textbook ratio needs attention so that we improve on the quality of our education, as expected. The Government has provided financial resources towards the purchase of the teaching and learning materials.
Our education partners are also assisting the ministry in that regard.
It is too early to really have an overwhelming response on where we need to change.
But nothing is in cement because we listen to our parents, we listen to our teachers . . . because we work through a whole-of-government approach.
We also listen to everybody and every voice.
This matters in order to improve the quality of our education.
So far, we have not had any overwhelming feedback with regard to the heritage-based curriculum.
Like I said, it has been well-received because it’s infusing the heritage part into learning; it is infusing the development of skills and strengthening innovation among learners.
So, it is being well-received by all stakeholders.
School feeding programme
The home-grown school feeding programme is here to stay.
The Government has been supplying grain through the Grain Marketing Board, with parents complementing the Government through the provision of relish.
This year’s bumper harvest is a blessing to us as a nation as we are assured of an uninterrupted supply of the much-needed grain and other necessities.
We are going to go ahead with the school feeding scheme.
It might not be on the full throttle that we have been administering, given that most families will have at least a hot meal in the morning and maybe in the evening also.
So, we will see, but we are still going to continue with the school feeding programme. We will maybe be targeting the most vulnerable learners, but the programme will continue.
The ministries of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development; and Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare will inform us more about the programme, but as per now, the plan stays in place.
Tuition fees
The approval of tuition fees increment is done on a case-by-case basis.
The ministry does not just allow schools to hike fees.
Depending on the needs of schools, fees can only be increased with the express approval of the Permanent Secretary.
As a matter of procedure, schools have to apply to the Permanent Secretary indicating their justification for the increase of fees. The request can be approved or turned down depending on the justification given by the school authorities.
Please note: no approval, no fees increase.
It has to come to the ministry for approval. There are no schools that I know of that have applied for an increase in tuition fees this term.
In considering an application for tuition fees adjustment, the ministry makes an assessment on whether there is need for a school to increase fees.
Some of the areas we consider are the projects that the school intends to undertake, for example, construction of new classrooms, purchase of furniture and teaching and learning materials.
Teacher recruitment
As usual, the ministry makes a request for recruitment of teachers to the Public Service Commission every term so that we reduce the teacher-pupil ratio that is obtaining in some of our schools.
This phenomenon of high teacher-pupil ratio does not only apply to rural areas alone.
We have some schools in urban areas that also need attention.
We are grateful that the Public Service Commission always makes provisions for a quantum of teachers to cover for the deficit that we are currently experiencing.
Schools audit
We will share with you the findings of the comprehensive audit of schools that is underway later.
Suffice to say, I can share that preliminary observations indicate a need to strengthen compliance in some schools.
This relates particularly to areas such as procurement procedures and the placement of staff, where there are existing rules and standards that must be followed.
We have also identified the importance of continuous professional development for school staff, particularly those involved in procurement and school administration, so they are well-informed about their roles and responsibilities.
Our work has been supported by anti-corruption agencies, which have helped equip procurement committees and school administrators with the necessary knowledge and tools to ensure compliance.
As this is a whole-of-government effort involving multiple departments, we are unable to provide a definitive timeline at this stage. However, we remain committed to transparency and will keep you updated once the final report is ready.
Angeline Gata is the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education. She was speaking to Debra Matabvu.
Online Reporter