Zimsec board to draft Zimbabwe-centric curriculum

Zimbabwe heritage studies should take centre stage in school curriculum to preserve the country's culture, the minister of Primary and Secondary Education said yesterday.

Lazarus Dokora was speaking after announcing the appointment of the new Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) board, to be led by Levi Nyagura.

Dokora indicated that in previous years, Zimbabwean schools were concentrating on teaching European history while sidelining Zimbabwean history.

"Among some of the things that need an overhaul is the history curriculum where our children were taught European history," Dokora said.

"It is time they learn their own history and culture so that they understand it and be able to continue in our cultural ways."

The new Zimsec board must draw up a new curriculum which should be finalised by year-end.

Nyagura, the vice chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, said his board fully understands the demands of the new job and will rise to the occasion.

He highlighted that they would continue to improve the Information Communication Technology (ICT) advances that had been initiated by the previous board.

"We should invest in ICTs not only for registration but for other things as well," he said.

"We understand the need to embrace changes in the ministry and we will ensure that innovation and change will succeed."

He emphasised the need to come up with better assessment tools for efficiency of learners, indicating the need to take practical subjects seriously so that learners become more complete when they leave school.

"Sitting for examinations alone is not skills training," he said.

"We want meaningful training to acquire life-skills so that our society is more knowledge-driven."

The new board is comprised of Rungano Zvobgo who is vice chairman, Cuthbert Katsvanga, Edgar Moyo, George Atkinson, Petronella Takawadi, Samson Magumise, Florence Makwena, Walter Mufuka, Andrew Sibanda, Miriam Matibenga and three other women.