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Lupane State University acting vice chancellor Nyakutse shares a moment with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Sylvia Utete-Masango

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has finalised the draft education curriculum review report which now awaits to be tabled before Cabinet, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Sylvia Utete-Masango said yesterday.

Utete-Masango told delegates gathered for a three-day national conference for commercial subjects at Hillside Teachers’ College in Bulawayo that education institutions need to prepare themselves for the new education curriculum.

Organised by Lupane State University and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the conference is being held under the theme “Commercial subjects for socio economic transformation”.

The conference seeks to highlight the importance of commercial courses in the country’s education system for socio economic transformation.

“We’re at the tail end of finalising the curriculum framework and we now have the final draft, which will be presented to Cabinet soon. After that we will proceed to the next stage, which is syllabus development. The commercial subjects are included in this final draft,” said Utete-Masango.

“This final draft of the new curriculum is expected to address the challenge of financial literacy, which is lacking in our education system. Our pupils need to understand the importance of commercial subjects and this is in line with Zim-Asset.”

She added that with changes that are coming up on a daily basis, there was an urgent need for the whole education system to be overhauled.

“It’s important for our young leaders to be able to think critically in line with where we’re going. Financial literacy is lacking in our graduates and that’s a challenge that needs to be tackled to transform our economy,” said Utete-Masango.

“Our education institutions should therefore be prepared for the new curriculum. Commercial subjects should start from early childhood and we expect the teachers at that level to have an appreciation of those subjects. We expect universities to assist us in this aspect,” she said.

Utete-Masango said the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) also had a critical role to play in transforming the education curriculum.

She said the education ministry had already started working with five universities that are training teachers as part of capacitating them ahead of implementing the new curriculum.

Lupane State University’s acting Vice Chancellor Getrude Nyakutse concurred with Utete-Masango.

She said commercial subjects were critical to national development and transformation, particularly in developing countries.

“The scope and breadth of these subjects has increased with the human needs and demand of the 21st century. Educationists have no choice but to adapt and keep up with these modern trends in order to ensure that learners are adequately equipped in their respective subjects,” said Nyakutse.

“I’m confident that by the end of the conference, a feasible, action oriented way forward for enhancing the teaching of commercial subjects will have been formulated, which will ensure that the teaching of commercial subjects contributes positively to national socio-economic transformation, in line with Zim-Asset.”

She said the objectives of the conference included examining the challenges faced in the education sector, recommending a road map for the teaching and assessment of commercial subjects as well as exploring the role played by commercial subjects in meeting aspirations of Zim-Asset.

Nyakutse said the conference also seeks to bridge the gap between universities, schools and Zimsec and create a platform for dialogue where participants will meet annually to review progress in the teaching of commercial subjects.

The conference, which ends tomorrow is being attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, different universities and Zimsec.