Bulawayo schools using wrong syllabus

A NUMBER of O-level pupils in Bulawayo are at risk of failing June and November Literature in English examinations as they are reading the wrong set books, this paper can exclusively reveal.
A survey by Sunday News last week revealed that pupils at Eveline, Bulawayo Adventist and Mandwandwe high schools have been studying the wrong African Literature (Paper 1) set books as a result of poor co-ordination with the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec).
The teaching of wrong books, investigations revealed, was not new in some schools and almost resulted in a fistfight at Mandwandwe High School in Bulawayo's Nkulumane 12 suburb during a review of the school's performance in last year's examinations. Two male teachers from the school were reportedly involved in a fierce war of words as they accused each other of sabotage after producing a low pass rate in Literature in English at both Ordinary and Advanced levels.
According to sources, teachers at the school knew that the head of the English department, Mr Israel Ndlovu, was teaching the wrong syllabus but did not tell him as they wanted to "teach him a lesson because of his arrogant behaviour".
"During the meeting he wasn't clear but he mentioned that he had used Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembgwa which was not even in the syllabus," a teacher at the school said.
At Bulawayo Adventist High School (BAHS), O-level pupils could be reading as many as six wrong books. The headmaster, who only identified himself as Mr M T Moyo, listed the books pupils were studying as Lion and the Jewel, Master Harold and the Boys and The Sun Will Rise Again for Paper 1.
However, according to the syllabus provided to this paper by Zimsec, Paper 1 has The Good Earth, Fasting and Feasting, Tell Tale, 11 Stories, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and The Chrysalids.
Things Fall Apart and Crick Crack Monkey appear on the syllabus which covers the years 2013-2018 but are clearly stated as having been removed for the 2014 examinations.
At Eveline and Mandwandwe, pupils have been studying Things Fall Apart and Nervous Conditions respectively.
A senior teacher at BAHS said the mix-up was a result of having received the syllabus late from Zimsec.
"At times we receive the syllabus late," he said.
According to the Zimsec website, circulars are sent to schools every year to furnish them with the relevant set books.
"Prescribed texts will be advised in examination circulars on a yearly basis. It is, however, important to always refer to the syllabus for all other syllabus requirements," the website reads.
A senior official at Zimsec said they sent a list of the current set books on the syllabus to all schools. He also confirmed having received inquiries from Mandwandwe following the use of wrong set books during last year's examinations.
He said the Mandwandwe head of the English department blamed Zimsec for his failure to notice that the books he used were wrong.
"The teacher is a damn liar; the school is not a desert. When a school is doing certain set books all schools will be doing them," he said.
The official also added that to avoid what happened at Mandwandwe, they were going to visit all schools before examinations or ask them to submit a list of the set books they are using for the year.
"We will ask them to show us a copy of the books they have been using as the scenario at Mandwandwe was very embarrassing,'' he said.
Eveline High School headmistress Mrs Sihle Ncube declined to comment, referring all questions to the provincial education director, Mr Dan Moyo, who said he did not know anything about set books.
"I know nothing about the current set books being used, the schools know better," he said.
He said the education department did not cater for the set books as Zimsec was the one that set the examinations, hence they would know better about the confusion.
"I don't know what set books they are currently reading, hence I cannot say whether they are wrong or correct," he said.