The Herald
by Herald Reporter
29 July 2010
The Government will soon overhaul school curriculums to meet key recommendations of the 1999 Nziramasanga Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Education, a Cabinet minister has said.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart said this at Tuesday’s unveiling of the new Zimsec board in Harare.
“We are lagging behind in terms of development. The current curriculum has not been that comprehensive as it was last updated over two decades ago.
“There is need to adjust and reform so that we meet the demands of different sectors of the economy,” he said.
Minister Coltart said emphasis would be on practical and technical subjects as Government sought to inculcate a culture of self-reliance.
“The current system has been academically oriented and we also have to put focus on vocational training for the development of the nation,” he said.
He added that Government would continue promoting science subjects.
Minister Coltart called for the review of the Zimsec Act.
“The Act is in need of revision as it was put in place when the country had less than four universities. Now we have many universities around the country and it is difficult to get a cohesive and coherent output if other members are excluded because of the Act. This is why it has been taking long to come up with a new board for the examination centre,” he said.
The Nziramasanga Commission recommended equal emphasis for practical and technical subjects and those of an academic nature in the first two years of secondary education.