Online Reporter
Amos Mpofu, [email protected]
THE Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerayi Moyo, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to nationalising examinations by ensuring that the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) becomes the sole nationally recognised examination board responsible for administering examinations and issuing certificates from next year.
Minister Moyo made the remarks on Thursday evening while officially opening the fourth session of the National Education Summit Zimbabwe during a dinner held at Lakeside Events Centre along Plumtree Road in Bulawayo, where he was the guest of honour.
He said other examination boards such as Cambridge and Oxford would still be allowed to offer their curricula, but learners would ultimately sit for ZIMSEC examinations.
“We have said, as Government, we are fostering the full enhancement of education which is enabling, an education system that is responsive to our day-to-day challenges through innovation and tapping into our heritage. The Heritage-Based Curriculum (HBC) is here to stay and to transform our everyday lives. Therefore, we are going to have a single certificate from ZIMSEC, while other examination boards are also encouraged to teach HBC as they will be examined by ZIMSEC,” he said.
Minister Moyo said Zimbabwe was not deviating from international norms by prioritising the Heritage-Based Curriculum, noting that several African countries have similar systems that promote local heritage, language and culture.
“If you go to other neighbouring African countries like South Africa, it is mandatory, even for foreign students at higher learning institutions, to learn one of their local cultures, languages and heritage. So we are not straying away,” he said.
He said the move was guided by constitutional and legislative provisions governing Zimbabwe’s education system.
“In line with the Constitution of Zimbabwe, Section 63, Chapter 25 of the Education Act of Zimbabwe speaks to the alignment between the curriculum and the trajectory of Government. But we are not saying we are banning other curriculums that are being offered. Rather, we are calling for them to infuse HBC into their education systems since we will be having one certificate offered by ZIMSEC as we progress into the future,” he said.
Minister Moyo also revealed that he recently held discussions with representatives from the Oxford University Examination Board on the matter, adding that they had shown interest in incorporating the Heritage-Based Curriculum into their education framework.
He said the engagements reflected progress towards Government’s broader vision of creating a unified and inclusive education system in Zimbabwe.
