Zimpapers Logo

Ray Bande Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT will not backtrack on the implementation of the new curriculum, but will only scout for more resources to meet its demands, a Cabinet minister has said.

In his keynote address during this years’ Global Action Week for Education (GAWE) commemorations held at Mt Matedzi Secondary School in Marange recently, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavima said the new curriculum is aimed at moulding a reliant citizen.

“There was the introduction of the new curriculum.

“It came as a result of the criticism of the former education system that was argued to be just theoretical, without equipping learners with necessary skills that make them self-reliant.

“There could have been some challenges, but these will definitely be addressed with time and availability of resources,” he said.

Prof Mavima said Government had started construction of 2 000 schools countrywide in an education sector development programme that is expected to see children travelling less than 5km to the nearest school.

He said 17 schools are already at different stages of construction and the programme would take three to five years to complete.

“We are building 2 000 schools countrywide.

“We have 17 schools that we started with, and should be complete by August.

“After the 17, we will move over to the next 100.

Mt Matedzi Secondary has no infrastructure, yet it has shown potential through its ever improving pass rate, therefore, we will include it on the list of 100 schools we will focus on after the first 17 are complete.

“The 2 000 schools should be completed in three to five years. No child is supposed to walk 5km or more to the nearest school,” he said.

The construction of the 2 000 schools countrywide is part of Government’s fulfilment of the agreements made at the Global Partnership for Education’s Financing Conference held at the begging of this year in Dakar, Senegal.

At that conference, developing countries, donor countries and various partners pledged to increase funding for education.

Speaking during the same occasion, Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZ) chairperson Ms Lydia Madyirapazhe said education must be treated as an emergency, just like health.

“We are saying education must be treated as an emergency, just like health. We might not see it now, but in 10 to 15 years to come, the effects will surface. At that point, it will take long to redress.

“It is against this background that we are urging Government to stick to its word when they pledged among other nations that they will increase their funding to education in Dakar, Senegal,” she said.

GAWE falls on April 22 to 28 and focuses on holding governments and the international community to account for implementing the full SDG 4 agenda.

The theme for GAWE this year is: “Accountability for SDG 4 through citizen participation: Keep your promise”.