via Government changes education syllabus | The Herald May 11, 2015
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has completed the draft Curriculum Framework that will see Agriculture being examined at primary school level, while Chinese, French, Swahili and Portuguese will be compulsory subjects in all Government schools.
According to the draft, the first Grade 7 General Paper Examination with the agriculture component will be written in 2016.
The draft becomes effective once it is approved by Cabinet.
The education ministry undertook an updating curriculum review exercise in October 2014, which was in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Education and Training (CIET) – the Nziramasanga Commission of 1999.
According to the draft, Ordinary Level students learner’s grades will be based on 40 percent theoretical examination, 30 percent practical examinations and 30 percent continuous assessment.
At the Junior School level (Form 2) 50 percent of the learner’s grade will be determined by continuous assessment and the other 50 percent will be based on the Grade 7 national examination.
According to the draft, Integrated Science is to be abolished because it does not save any purpose.
Children commencing secondary level up to advanced level will be now doing pure sciences.
At advanced level, besides Literature in English, literature of all the indigenous languages will be taught according to the schools province.
Upon completion of ordinary level, learners will now engage in a Life Skills Orientation programme for five months. The programme will encompass general and specific skills training through placement in sectors such as health volunteer services and outward bound the uniformed forces.
COMMENTS
Chinese….the new settlers.
The new COLONIZERS
Yaaa iyi ndiyo inonzi yaa chaiyo saka Chinese yapinda papi apa.nhai vedu wee Mwari pindirai zimbabwe yaenda kumavere chaiko saka mateacher acho atovepo here kutambwa bhora chairo vana vedu vapindana nacho
While I am generally a critic of the government and some of their policies, this one has some elements of merit. It was about time the curriculum was changed, to adapt to the demands of the new world we are operating in. The concept of continuous assessment is critical and should be commended. The days of children being able to cram for exams for 2 weeks and play around the other 10 weeks is gone. It will teach a consistent approach to education that is commendable. The introduction of other languages is also good, as it will provide our kids with a competitive advantage on the world map. Zimbos are known the world over for their very good english, I can now envisage a situation where they will be well known for their multi-linguistic abilities.
The introduction of pure sciences at an early age is also to be commended. This will ensure that the depth and complexity of learning will continue to improve and our Advanced Level students will be able to specialise the skills and knowledge in the various scientific fields that they choose to study.
There are some flaws to this change, but I wont go into it.
However, as with everything Zanu PF related, sound policy and sound policy implementation are worlds apart. This is going to be a catastrophic failure becuase we no longer have people in government who can execute.
Ps.. I hope this change in curriculum is also considering a change in the curriculum at our teacher training colleges. Our teachers will need to be skilled (and in some instance re-skilled) to deal with their role in this new curriculum…
Anyway, good luck
Quite right! Abolish the study of science, because it serves no purpose in a country run by ZANU-PF. Mugabe and his goons just make everything up anyway. Nothing in their administration is based on any sort of empirical evidence or analysis. And it’s good to see that life skills are taking precedence over scholarly study. You can never learn too early, how to sell airtime cards on the streets! Perhaps there will also be a section on the proper way to invade a farm?
Whaat about things we will learn at Form 3