Story by Tamuka Charakupa
EIGHT primary and secondary schools from Mashonaland West Province have been honoured with the prestigious Permanent Secretary’s Award, highlighting the importance of fully implementing the heritage-based curriculum.
The Second Republic is committed to transforming schools to equip students with life skills, fostering self-empowerment opportunities.
St Marks High School in Mhondoro Mubaira is leading the way in championing the heritage-based curriculum, with students actively engaging in hands-on projects like metalwork, poultry farming, and horticulture.
“I am a form three student but I am now able to run a garden, particularly tomato production. This is a skill which I am able to utilise now while still at school,” Leon Maganga said.
“As young girls, we are also partaking in formally male-dominated crafts like metalwork because we believe we are capable to do the same and possibly form our own welding companies after we finish school,” a female pupil said.
“Right now the country is faced with the scourge of drug and substance abuse which means that more focus should be on creating self-empowerment opportunities for the youth, as a way to drive young people from idleness. This is what we are getting at our schools as learners,” another pupil added.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Moses Mhike says the government is promoting the imparting of life skills among learners through full implementation of the heritage-based learning curriculum, sentiments also echoed by Mashonaland West Provincial Education Director, Mr Gabriel Mhuma.
“The revised curriculum aims to equip learners with skills, values and attitudes essential for life and work by integrating a strong scientific and technological focus, aligning with the government’s skills development strategy.
“We want to produce students who are not only academically gifted but also innovative to create their own employment opportunities, particularly through entrepreneurship, thus the Permanent Secretary’s Awards are a way to motivate schools to push a step further in enhancing the educational sector in line with the Ministry’s targets,” Mr Mhike said.
“We are currently monitoring the full implementation of the new curriculum to ensure there is a smooth transition. Our focus remains on vocationalisation so that we do not only produce academics but also entrepreneurs,” Mr Mhuma said.
The eight schools which were honoured for their outstanding achievements from 2021 to date include St Marks High School, Chinhoyi Tech High School, Trelawney Primary, Karoi Jnr, Sampakaruma High, Chiedza Primary, Kutama College, Wanganui High School and Waverley Primary School.
