While
a
ceiling
of
four
subjects
has
been
set
for
Advanced
Level
under
the
Heritage-Based
Education
Curriculum
whose
operationalisation
begins
when
schools
open
for
the
second
term
in
a
fortnight.
This
follows
the
approval
by
Cabinet
of
the
Heritage-Based
Education
2024
to
2030
curriculum
framework,
which
is
expected
to
transform
the
education
system
to
produce
citizens
with
relevant
skills
aligned
to
national
development.
The
Heritage-Based
Education
2024
to
2030
curriculum,
which
will
not
affect
this
year’s
examination
classes,
is
replacing
the
Continuous
Assessment
Learning
Activities
(CALA).
In
an
interview,
Director
of
Communications
and
Advocacy
in
the
Ministry
of
Primary
and
Secondary
Education,
Mr
Taungana
Ndoro,
said
the
ministry
is
finalising
the
operational
modalities
of
the
Heritage-Based
Curriculum.
“These
are
the
initial
modalities
on
how
schools
are
supposed
to
run.
For
example,
we
will
be
having
five
compulsory
subjects
for
O-Levels,
and
a
total
of
eight
learning
areas
per
learner.
For
A-Level,
there
is
requirement
for
a
minimum
of
three
learning
areas
and
a
maximum
of
four
per
learner.
We
should
also
remember
that
the
curriculum
is
not
affecting
the
current
examination
classes,”
he
said.
Circular
4
of
2024,
released
by
the
Ministry
of
Primary
and
Secondary
Education
early
this
week
reads:
“The
implementation
of
the
primary
and
secondary
curriculum
will
be
as
follows:
All
the
2024
examination
classes,
that
is,
Grade
Seven,
Form
Four
and
Form
Six,
will
continue
with
the
old
curriculum
and
its
assessment
modalities.
“The
2024
examination
classes
(Grade
Seven,
Form
Four
and
Form
Six),
will
continue
with
CALAs
to
complete
the
assessment
cycle
and
submit
to
ZIMSEC.
Non-examination
classes
will
commence
School-Based
Projects
in
May
2024.
Each
learner
at
whatever
level
will
do
one
project
per
learning
area
per
year.
“For
the
2024
Grade
Six,
Form
Three
and
Form
Five
learners,
school-based
projects
will
be
considered
as
part
of
the
coursework
mark
to
ZIMSEC
in
2025.
The
primary
school
level
will
continue
to
use
the
syllabi
until
December
31,
2024
after
syllabus
review.
Secondary
school
levels
will
continue
to
use
the
syllabi
until
December
31,
2024
after
syllabus
review.
“In
Forms
One
to
Four,
all
learners
study
the
following
five
core
and
compulsory
learning
areas:
(1)
Mathematics
(ii)
English
Language
(iii)
Indigenous
Language
and
Literature
(iv)
Combined
Science
(v)
Heritage
Studies.
In
addition,
learners
also
study
at
least
three
necessary
electives.”
The
circular
further
clarifies
that
the
learner
can
now
select
three
more
subjects
of
their
choice
from
a
cluster
of
sciences,
languages,
humanities,
commercials,
technical
and
vocational
education,
physical
education
and
arts.
The
recommended
number
of
learning
areas
for
study
per
learner
is
eight.
On
its
implementation
modalities,
on
Part
3.3.2,
which
deals
with
Upper
Secondary
School
Level
(Form
Five
and
Form
Six),
the
circular
reads:
“Form
Five
and
Form
Six
learners
will
study
learning
areas
according
to
the
career
pathway.
A
learner
is
placed
into
a
pathway
of
choice
using
the
acquired
competencies
(knowledge,
skills
and
values)
and
profile
record.
“All
learning
areas
have
the
same
weight.
The
curriculum
promotes
five
pathways
which
are
Science,
Technology,
Engineering
and
Mathematics
(STEM):
Visual
Performing
Arts;
Technical
and
Vocational
Education
and
Training;
Humanities
and
Commercials.”
The
pathways
for
STEM,
for
example,
has
learning
areas
that
include
Mathematics,
Physics,
Biology,
Software
Engineering,
Computer
Science,
Agriculture,
Geography,
Physical
Education,
Sports
and
Mass
Displays,
while
the
Humanities
pathway
has
Sociology,
Indigenous
Literature,
Foreign
Language,
Heritage
Studies,
Art,
Physical
Education,
Sports
and
Mass
Displays.
Commercials
pathway
has
Economics,
Business
Enterprise,
Agribusiness,
Physical
Education,
Sports
and
Mass
Displays,
Software
Engineering
and
Computer
Science.
Visual
and
Performing
Arts
pathway
has
learning
areas
that
include
Film,
Music,
Theatre
Arts,
Physical
Education,
Sports
and
Mass
Displays,
Computer
Science
and
Software
Engineering.
The
Heritage-Based
Education
2024-2030
Curriculum
Framework
is
expected
to
transform
the
education
system
in
order
to
produce
citizens
with
relevant
skills,
applied
knowledge,
values,
and
dispositions
that
are
key
to
national
development,
beginning
with
the
communities
they
serve.
Zimbabwe
Rural
Teachers’
Union
(ZRTU)
president,
Mr
Martin
Chaburumunda
said
the
capping
of
the
number
of
subjects
at
O
and
A-Level
resonates
with
the
plight
of
the
rural
child
who
was
being
pressurised
to
match
standards
being
set
by
their
counterparts
at
boarding
and
elite
schools.
He
said
in
the
past,
some
learners
were
registering
more
than
20
subjects,
while
rural
learners
struggled
to
register
eight.
“The
rural
learner
was
being
eclipsed
even
they
register
seven
subjects
and
score
As
by
their
boarding
counterparts
who
register
15
subjects
and
score
15As.
This
will
help
ground
our
learners
on
a
particular
pathway.
Our
education
should
be
career
pathway-oriented,”
he
said.
Manica
Post
Post
published
in:
Featured