Zimpapers Logo

Compiled by Crystabel Chikayi
They say “smart students prepare early”, but how early is early when schools open a week after the festive season?

It’s already time to begin another school year.

This week started with parents running all over town doing back-to-school shopping.

Some are trying to get loans from banks, they spent all the money on Christmas and forgot at dawn it would be a new day and the children will need new stationery for the new term.

All children want a new satchel, uniform and new shoes when going for the school’s first term so parents flock to uniform selling shops to have kids try on the uniforms.  They get excited they are opening a new leaf as the term starts.

The first term is the busiest, with a lot of anxiety to most of the newcomers, as they try to settle and adjust to various levels of learning.

After the shopping is done, the students finally realise they are going back to school.

Form Four and Form Six students get a little scared. This is the final year at high school for Form Six students. They have to enjoy it, yet they have to pull off their best performances.

They can only make it when they drop the bad “we-are-the-seniors” attitude. The call to be on the spotlight and practise authority on other students simply eats up the focus of students.

Students need to be focused and organised if they are to make it academically. They have to go prepared for their classes.

Jotting down key concepts and phrases while the teacher teaches is a good way to go. It is important to attend all lessons and be attentive — they say once you miss the concepts and background of the topic then you might never really understand it.

Perhaps one can set a timetable for all their daily activities. This is done for the sake of accountability, considering the fact that high school is full of extra curricular activities and social engagements.

Setting goals is ideal for a student. Even when they miss a goal they should keep the positive mind that they will certainly make it the next time.

Starting a year with a negative mind can be so discouraging and can only lead to failure.

The non-examination writing classes get ready for the new curriculum  as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education stressed that it will employ 7 000 teachers to kick start the new curriculum.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango said:

“We should put emphasis where we will be introducing new learning areas, ensuring that we have requisite expertise in those areas.

“It’s not as simple as just coming up with a number. That’s what we’re looking at and we have to discuss and agree.”