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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu in Plumtree
MATABELELAND South provincial education director Tumisang Thabela has urged learners to take school sporting activities seriously, as they were   important in providing balance to the curriculum.

Speaking at the official launch of the Matabeleland South Provincial Annual Sport, Science Arts Festival (PASSAF) edition at Plumtree High School on Thursday, Thabela said the festival was a crucial part of the new curriculum.

“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has embarked on the second phase of implementation of the updated curriculum. As a way of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum in equipping learners with skills, the ministry has introduced School Annual Sports Science and Arts Festivals (SASSAF)

“These will take place from school to national level and help identify learners’ talents and skills so that they are deliberately and systematically nurtured and developed through our programming within the education system,” Thabela said.

She said physical education, sport and mass displays were crucial in ensuring schools produced well rounded learners with desirable competencies.

“Learners should value activities such as the ones they are having this week, as they help them, not only to fully understand some theoretical concepts taught in class, but also practise health promoting behaviours. They can also experiment on some of the concepts they have learnt through discoveries in the area of science and creative arts. Every learning area should equip learners with skills that allow them to earn a living in the real world. The festivals are therefore a practical example,” she said.

Thabela said the festival was aimed at identifying talent among learners, enabling parents to see the kind of performance their children were engaged in.
The festival ran from July 5-7, with primary and secondary schools from Matabeleland South competing in soccer, basketball, handball, tennis, volleyball, netball, chess, athletics, dances, rugby, athletics, music, mass display, cricket, modelling, public speaking, debate, quiz and drama. — @DubeMatutu