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Herald Reporters
Zimbabwe is seeking Iranian support in reviewing its primary and secondary education curricula so it can impart scientific and technical skills to pupils at an early stage.
Speaking after a meeting with the Iranian envoy to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Mohammad Amin Nejad, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Lazarus Dokora, said bilateral co-operation between the two countries would assist in the reviewing of the curricula and result in the production of graduates able to perform in industry.
He said Zimbabwe wanted to learn from Iranians since they had vast expertise in science and were better placed in terms of technology.
“The Zim-Iranian bilateral relationship is structured to revamp our existing school curricula and this will equip our junior scholars in primary with the current technical knowhow like their counterparts in Iran.
“In Iran pupils start studying science subjects at pre-school, something that we as a country must adopt into our system,” he said.
Dr Dokora said most parents who had been consulted by the ministry had indicated the need for a review of the current curricula so that sciences were introduced to children at ECD.
“We would want to have children in primary schools studying biology, physics and chemistry subjects.
“Every community is calling for our children to be practical and be able to help themselves. We talk to our friends so that we get necessary support. We do not work in isolation. We are part of the international community. We look at the relative advantage Iran has in relationship to our thrust,” he said.
Dr Dokora said Zimbabwe was not only looking to Iran for expertise, but was also considering other countries such as Denmark, South Sudan, Britain and European Union members.
He said Government was expected to have completed reviewing of the curricula in March this year. Ambassador Amin Nejad said in Iran children studied sciences at an early stage.
He invited the Zimbabwean delegation to Iran to identify expertise and personnel required in the production of science education equipment.
“An Iranian delegation can also come to Zimbabwe to assist in the curricula review. They will have the chance to see what is available and how it can be improved,” he said.
Online Reporter