Curran was ‘a team man’ – Traicos

By David Coltart | Published October 10, 2012

Cricinfo

10 October 2012

Tributes have been paid to Kevin Curran, the former Zimbabwe allrounder, who died on Wednesday at the age of 53. John Traicos, the former offspinner, remembered him as a “dedicated person” while Heath Streak, who was coached by Curran said “nothing was too much for him to try and conquer”.

Traicos, a former captain of Curran, was “shocked” to hear the news of his death which occurred when he was out running. He had been told by Duncan Fletcher, another former captain of Zimbabwe and currently the India coach. Curran played the 1983 World Cup where Zimbabwe were led by Fletcher.

“The most shocking thing is, he was incredibly fit. He was a fitness fanatic, he used to be in the gym everyday,” Traicos said. “He and Malcolm Jarvis ran a gymnasium in Harare and Kevin was there every day, did everything from weights to aerobics. And he ran a lot. He was very, very competitive and played rugby, tennis and golf. He was a naturally talented guy.”

Traicos recollected leading Curran at the Harare Sports Club in the early 1980s. “I had great admiration for Kevin. He was a self-made cricketer,” Traicos said. “We had quite a high work ethic in those days and I remember Kevin being a really dedicated guy, who would bowl for hours on the concrete pitches on his own. He had a lovely action, a very nice away swinger and bowl very, very quickly. In 1985, when the Australians came to Zimbabwe, Dean Jones mentioned that Kevin was one of the fastest bowlers he had faced. Kevin was an incredibly talented guy, an allrounder, batted beautifully, really gutsy performer. He was always a team man, an outstanding cricketer. “

Andy Waller, the former Zimbabwe batsman, said he had never seen another cricket with greater self-belief than Curran. “You often heard the words desire, determination, dedication and discipline being used by coaches if sports person want to be the best in their fields. Well, KC applied all four throughout his career. To top it off he had more self-belief than any person I know and my goodness was he competitive. It was, therefore, no coincidence that Kev was so successful at everything he did,” Waller said.

Waller gave an idea of Curran’s competitiveness with an example. “He had played in a regular 4-ball (golf) at Rusape Country Club, the area where he and folks once farmed. Him and his mate could never win this one particular hole versus the two elderly gents. It was a straight par 4, but over a slight rise with the green out of sight. The two old blokes hit it straight over the rise and the ball always rolled down the hill on the hard fairways close to the green. The day before one encounter he got some of the labourers from the farm, dug a bunker in front of the green without permission from the green-keeper or anyone. The two old folks were horrified to see their balls in the bunkers after their normal straight drives. Kev and his mate won the hole for the first time.”

According to Waller, Curran was often misunderstood if you met him for the first time. “The word arrogant was often used when talking about KC and people who met him for the first time were not quite sure of this guy, but when you had the privilege to get to know him, be his team mate and friend you realised what an amazing person he was.”

Zimbabwe’s sports minister, David Coltart, said, “I fondly remember the chats we had recently about the future of cricket in Zimbabwe. He had such a passion for the game and Zimbabwe. He stuck to our beloved nation through its worst years and was committed to doing what he could to restore pride to Zimbabwe cricket. He will be sorely missed.”

Alan Pichanick, the former Zimbabwe Cricket Union president in the early 1980s, remembers talking to a young Curran, who was bowling leg spinner but had ambitions of becoming a fast bowler. “During the period that I was the President of Zimbabwe Cricket in the early 1980s when Kevin was emerging as a promising young player he discussed with me his conversion from being a leg spinner to a quick bowler. I had already seen him developing as a quick bowler and I told him that it was apparent that he had good pace and was able to spin the ball prodigiously. I pointed out to him that he would need to be in a position where his accuracy was such that if he was asked by his Captain to deliver six successive yorkers on middle and leg he would have to be able to achieve that,” Pichanick said.

That the transition would not happen overnight, Curran clearly understood. But he was not going to quit without trying. “For some months thereafter he could be seen on his own at the nets at the Harare Sports Club, bowling by himself for hours with waiters from the club returning the ball to him after each delivery. In that same season he represented Zimbabwe and began what became a very successful career as a fast bowler allied to tremendous skill as a batsman and fielder as well.

According to Pichanick, Curran’s determination and dedication were so intense that he did not risking his day-time job at the time. “Unfortunately much of his practice time involved periods when he should have been at work and caused him to lose his first job after leaving school. However the skills he acquired enabled him to embark on a highly successful International career for Zimbabwe and simultaneously a very distinguished career in County cricket in England for Gloucestershire and Northants,” Pichanick said.

Streak, meanwhile, said Curran was desperate to help cricket in Zimbabwe. “He was my bowling coach and we worked together when he was on the selection committee and I became involved in administration. He was always such a positive guy and he always found the best in everything. Nothing was too much for him to try and conquer.

“He lived cricket and he was very passionate about Zimbabwe and helping cricket in the country. His kids also have the same passion and its going to be tough for them now. It’s really sad what happened. He was a fit guy, he played squash, he ran four times a week. It’s sad.”

Messages were also posted on Twitter from current and former players around the world. Curran enjoyed a very successful county career with Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire, playing for the latter until 1999.

Adam Hollioake tweeted: “Sad to hear of Kevin Curran’s passing A true competitor & one of my fiercest adversary’s…RIP brother my thoughts are with u & ur family..”

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, wrote: “Thoughts are with his close Family. A wonderful cricketer who would have flourished In the modern era of T20.”

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-10-07

By David Coltart | Published October 7, 2012
  • And who said #golf is boring! Well done Europe. As a neutral that was simply pulsating, great stuff. Wonderful for the game of golf. #
  • The Coltarts – @AndrewColtart and me that is, are united in their joy over Europe's victory. Of course Andrew plays rather better than me #
  • Gracious @bubbawatson – much appreciated magnanimity in stating that Seve would be proud #
  • Zimbabwe and Tunisia qualify for Rugby World Cup Sevens http://t.co/K5gGDWAv #
  • " We are keeping SA companies in business – what will happen if we go to war with these countries we are importing (wheat) from?" – Chombo #
  • Chombo in the Herald today – shouldn't import wheat from SA in case we have "to go to war" against them! Paranoia of ZPF knows no bounds #
  • "Wheat production declines" – full article with Chombo's comments http://t.co/y1HzIYDD #
  • #Zim wheat production has fallen by 90% since 2000. Now ZPF don't want imports from SA. Ah well I suppose we will just have to eat cake #
  • Good luck to @ABdeVilliers17 and his merry men tday from all of us Zims north of the Limpopo. From David Coltart Zim Minister, Ed and Sport #
  • I am delighted to announce that Cabinet approved the MOU between the Ministry of Education & Foundations for Farming yesterday. #
  • Following MOU between Foundations for Farming & Min of Education conservation agriculture will become an integral part of #Zim #039;s curriculum #
  • Conservation agriculture as promoted by Foundations for Farming has the ability to revolutionise #Zimbabwe http://t.co/1cA9fYcv #
  • My vision is that every #Zim child of this current generation will be taught, in school, conservation farming. It will end starvation in Zim #
  • In Cape Town attending @AfricanBrains conference. Will give speech on "Education for employment, developing skills for vocation" on Saturday #
  • Delighted to hear that Nick Price has chosen #Zimbabweans Tony Johnstone and Mark McNulty to be his assistant captains for President's Cup #
  • Wonderful that 3 #Zimbabweans will play such an important role in #golf #039;s President's Cup to be held in USA in 2013 http://t.co/VmBLCj7v #
  • Congratulations to Nick Price for not forgetting his #golfing roots and choosing his #Zimbabwean compatriots to help in the President's Cup. #
  • Condolences to the family and friends of my neighbour in Cabinet and fellow, albeit Tertiary, Education Minister Stan Mudenge who died yday. #
  • What a hiding. West Indies you beauties! Gayle 75 no off 41 balls. Windies 205 for 4 in their 20. Aus now 64 for 6 off 10. #
  • Just finished speaking on "education for employment, developing skills for vocation" at African Brains conference in Cape Town. #
  • As good as our education system is in Zimbabwe it is too academically orientated and we need a greater focus on vocational subjects. #
  • #Zimbabwe is now embarking on a comprehensive review and reform of its curriculum, starting with a conference in December to consider needs. #
  • A key component of curriculum reform will be to implement vocational education strategies. We need to respond to projected needs of Zimbabwe #
  • Zimbabwe's need to improve vocational education needs a complete change of mind set of Government – will require massive investment. #
  • The only way we can make the investment in education we need to is if we dramatically change our budget priorities, especially Defence. #
  • Singapore, Sou Korea and Finland made decisions decades ago to invest heavily in education above Defence and bloated government ministries. #
  • #Zimbabwe cannot achieve its education goals unless we spend in excess of 30% of our budget on education which we are not doing at present. #
  • So good having Williams and Coventry back playing cricket in #Zimbabwe for Tuskers. We have missed both of them. Zim cricket the stronger #
  • Well done Tuskers. Good start to the season – 211 after 50. A few rusty players but you can build well on this. #
  • #Zimbabwean Brendan de Jonge doing well on the US PGA tour today – sitting second on 17 under par. Well done Brendan flying the flag high. #
  • Privileged to celebrate the good Lord's grace, mercy, joy and faithfulness with my sons and Louie Giglio at Greenpoint Stadium, CT, tonight #
  • Brendan de Jonge on a roll this afternoon at Las Vegas leading the PGA tournament at end of the 3rd round. Amhlope, Makorokoto. Rio 2016! #
  • Good luck to #Zimbabwean Brendan de Jonge in the @PGAction this afternoon. Time to restore the glory days of Zimbabwe #golf #

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Speech given at African Brains Conference

By David Coltart | Published October 6, 2012

African Brains Conference

Speech given by David Coltart

6 October 2012

[Link to video of speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA21S5okwM8]

Senator David Coltart — Minister of Education, Sport, Arts & Culture, Zimbabwe speaking on Education for Employment, Developing Skills for Vocation at the Innovation Africa Summit – 5th-7th October 2012 at the Westin Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa. Supported by the Government of South Africa and co-hosted by AfricanBrains and the University of the Western Cape.

“Zimbabwe has certainly in the region been recognised as one of the education power houses for some time. Our students are, for example, sought after by South African universities and other universities, and our teachers are found in many of our neighbouring states because of their qualities being recognised. However, in the context of a rapidly changing socioeconomic environment in Zimbabwe, internationally, and of course in the region, the need to reform our education, to prepare learners for the challenges of the current times, and the uncertain future, requires that we change our education system to identify and nurture diverse skills. All people have god given talents but they are always very different and diverse and these need to be, as I said, identified and nurtured. So as good as Zimbabwe’s education system has been in the past, one of the critiques of our system has been, it that it has been far too academically orientated, and that has resulted in the past couple of decades in tens of thousands of Zimbabwean children being given a very good academic education which however has lead them unemployed. We recognise that vocationalisation is a critically important change that needs to be made or rather enhanced in Zimbabwe’s education system.

I am going to try and keep my talk as short as possible; I have got a paper, those of you who want to go through the paper it will be made available to you.

In brief, I want to look at the rationale for vocationalising the Zimbabwean curriculum, our current status of Tec-Voc education in Zimbabwe,   the challenges that we face, and strategies for strengthening the teaching and learning of education for employment in schools.

As I mentioned just now one of the key concerns about our education system has been this bias for academic and the resultant failure of our education system to prepare children adequately for Zimbabwe’s economy. This was recognised in 1999. The government instituted a Commission of Inquiry into Education and Training (CIET). One of the key recommendations of that Nziramasanga commission, as it was called, was that we needed in particular a secondary school curriculum with a strong vocational component to create employment. Since 1999 we recognise that we need this new direction within our education system. The rationale for providing technical and vocational education in the Zimbabwe school system is as follows. Eight provide a curriculum with content responsive to business requirements and learner needs, to produce students who can competently come up with technological designs to solve problems, to provide a wide range of Tec-Voc subjects from which students could choose, to link those Tec-Voc Education courses to relevant Science and Engineering courses in tertiary institutions, to link learners with economic activities around their school environment. Zimbabwe in the last decade as we all know has unfortunately been through a decade of turmoil and as result many of the recommendations contained in the Nziramasanga commission in 1999 have not been implemented.

The current state of our Tec-Voc education in Zimbabwe reflects the position pre-1999, which although as I said has a strong academic bias, did have elements of vocational education. Having said that though, one of the key advances in the past ten years is in the promotion of ECD (Early Child Development) and that has focused on initial orientation towards Tec-Voc subjects including practices in Arts and Craft, Music, Computers, and Physical Education.

Our primary school curriculum consists of 13 subjects. Fifty percent of these are practical. They include environmental Science, Music, Art and Craft, Physical Education, Home Economics and Computer Studies.

At junior level, the curriculum is broad based and there is no specialisation. Students are expected to study at least two Tec-Voc Subjects, one business/Commercial subject and at least five compulsory academic subjects. A fairly wide range of Tec-Voc subjects are on offer and these include, among others: Agriculture, Art, Building Studies, Commerce, Computer Studies, Fashion and Fabrics, Food and Nutrition, Metalwork, Music, Woodwork.

 At middle secondary, which is forms 3 and 4 (‘O’ Level), students are expected are expected to study at least two Tex-Voc subjects, one Business/Commercial subjects, in addition to academic subjects. A fairly wide range of Tec-Voc subjects are on offer, and examined at the end of ‘O’Level, these include among others, agriculture, Building Studies, Fashion and Fabrics, Food and nutrition, Home Management,  Metalwork, Technical Graphics, Woodwork, Business Studies, Commerce, , Computer Studies, Economics, and Music. The vocational subjects which are offered as single subject courses are examined by the Higher Education Examinations Council (HEXCO) leading to, what is called, a  National Foundation Certificate (NFC) qualification. The subjects on offer fall under the following categories: Applied Arts, Automotive Engineering, Building Construction and Allied Trades, Computer Studies, Electrical Engineering, Hotel Catering and Tourism, Mechanical Engineering, Science and Technology, and Performing Arts.

We do also have a variety of subjects offered at advanced level including drama, Food Science, and the like.

Our examination board, the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations Council (ZimSEC) does offer practical subjects which are examinable at both primary and secondary level. What about the challenges facing the implementation of the vocational education in Zimbabwe? I think that our primary challenge now is the lack of adequate resources both material and financial. Regrettably this is not something which simply inflicts Zimbabwe. It is a subject that I spoke on at the World Education Forum in London in January this year. Internationally and domestically, the world is simply not applying sufficient resources to education. Whilst, fellow Minister, I am very impressed to hear that Botswana is allocating 27% of its budget to education, I believe that as lordable as that is and it is certainly above what we are contributing to education, it is insufficient. If we consider the example of countries such as South Korea, Singapore, and Finland, one will see that those countries have had a sustained investment in education over many decades. It is also very interesting to note that those countries have relatively low budgets for defence spending. Sadly in Zimbabwe, over many decades, although we have focused on education and education consistently has received the top amount of spending in our budget, defence has always been a very close second, and let me stress that that is an international problem. Until we change our funding priorities we will be faced in Zimbabwe and I suspect elsewhere with a dearth of the resources we need to adequately develop the teaching of vocational education. As we know in many of our schools throughout the continent they lack the resources, lack the equipment that we need to ensure that an adequate vocational education is provided to children. Tied into that of course is the challenge we face regarding the production of teachers who can teach vocational education, because in Zimbabwe our tradition has been academically orientated, we have very few teachers who have the necessary skills to teach vocational subjects. That has been compounded in the Zimbabwean context by very high staff turnover because our teachers are marketable both within and outside Zimbabwe. So bearing in mind these challenges what are our strategies to strengthen our TEC VOC education? They are as follows:  Firstly we intend to implement a two-pathway education structure, which is skills based, and establish district TVE (Tec-Voc Education) model Centres and we intend in future to develop those centres and provide the necessary vocational education equipment necessary to schools. A critically important strategy is of course staff development which entails the transformation of our teacher training colleges to achieve more of a balance between academic and vocational subjects. We need to develop strategies for schools. Another critical strategy is of course curriculum development and review. The Zimbabwean curriculum was last comprehensively reviewed in 1986. And we have now this year embarked on a new comprehensive review and reform of our curriculum, funded by the Open Society Institute of Southern Africa. We have a major workshop scheduled for December this year in Zimbabwe. We recognise that this needs to have Broad stakeholder representation from all sectors of our society including agriculture, mining, commerce, law, all the professions, so we can take into account the needs of our society, not just our current needs, but of course our projective needs over the next fifteen to twenty years. We are drawing on expertise from other countries.  I have had extensive discussions with the Finish government, for example, which is widely recognised as having one of the best vocational education system in the world and I am delighted that the Fins are assisting us in our curriculum reform exercise.  There are key areas that we need to look at, that are deficiency areas in our current education. I do not have time to go into them in detail, but these include ICT, not just the teaching of ICT as a standing alone subject, but its application in the teaching of all subjects, the Environment, The promotion of subjects such as conservation agriculture, which I believe has the ability to completely transform not just Zimbabwe but the whole of Africa. Of course, we increasingly need to look at sport, arts and culture as business, because they can generate enormous wealth for any country and provide a career for many children. Ladies and gentlemen in Zimbabwe we recognise that technological and vocational education needs to become a vital mode of education delivery from primary through to tertiary institutions. Our intention is to come up with an education system that mitigates poverty through the enhancement of employment creation, a well designed Tec-Voc education will indeed be education for employment. Nonetheless, because of the high cost involved in its implementation, it needs our government to make education as a whole an absolute budgetary priority, not only in words but in deeds. That is going to require some very difficult political decisions to be taken. In closing, I think it is important that we all have a regional and continental vision. I increasingly talk to my own children not so much about Zimbabwe but about SADC as a region. We need a common plan because our future will be so much more vigorous and exciting if we harness our diversity. And to that extent, functions like this are not only important for our countries but they are important so that we develop at least a regional vision for vocational education. Because of that we are very grateful for African Brains for organising conferences like this and we hope that they will be just the start of many in the future.

Thank you.

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Will Zifa Trust bring lost glory to Zim?

By David Coltart | Published October 6, 2012

The Sunday News

By Bruce Itai Chimani

6 October 2012

FOOTBALL undoubtedly the most popular sport in Zimbabwe has been haunted by many negatives, the greatest of late being the  Asiagate scandal, a report of which was released this past week that saw some players being exonerated.

On the other end the state of Zimbabwe football, especially on the financial end, has not been as first-rate as is expected of it.

The Warriors have struggled time and again during preparations for crucial games and this has invariably contributed to their poor performance during some of their matches.

The Warriors have eased back into the top 100 on the latest Fifa/Coca-Cola football rankings and have given a good account of themselves in the final qualifier for Afcon 2013 first leg tie against Angola. Boasting a healthy 3-1 lead, the senior national team may still have to contend with the lax attitude demonstrated by relevant stakeholders who preside over the  sport. A case in point being the manner in which preparations and logistics for the   Angola match were conducted, whereby players trickled into camp in a somewhat haphazard way.

A recent football indaba held in Harare arrived at the conclusion that the establishment of sustainable developmental resolutions to curb the perennial problems dogging the country’s biggest sport is crucial.

Among the resolutions and recommendations made at the Football indaba, which was held in Harare and was initiated by the Sport and Recreation Commission,  were issues of football development, investment and infrastructure, gate takings and levies, the new Zifa constitution, the revival of the Warriors Trust and the conclusion of the investigation into the Asiagate match-fixing scandal.

However, of interest was the revival of the Warriors Trust, which will be rechristened Zifa Trust because of its broad focus on national football as a whole not just the senior national team.

minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart said the new Zifa Trust would have checks and balances, which would ensure football in Zimbabwe develops and regains its lost glory.

The indaba saw various stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture led by Coltart, the Sports and Recreation Commission, Zifa and the corporate world come together to deliberate on various matters haunting the country’s most popular sport.

“I should say that the meeting was a very productive one. We all agreed on some of the most important things that will take Zimbabwean football to a better place,” said Coltart.

“The re-establishment of the Zifa trust is one such resolution that I am going to present to cabinet and we will produce a document that will contain all the deliberations that will be guidelines to it,” he added.

“This time we want to make sure that we make the trust as professional as is possible. We need to get professionals like lawyers, accountants and so on and let them run the trust with their various expertise.

“However the system will be run after consultation with cabinet. we want to make sure also that the trust will not be linked to any politics so that it is in no way affected whenever elections take place,” added Coltart.

Coltart noted that there was need for the board of trustees to constitute men and women of integrity who have a mind to take the game of football to higher levels.

The Zifa Trust will be a way of ensuring Zifa solely depends on itself and not on the government according to Zifa president Cuthbert Dube, in recent press reports.

Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze hailed the development as a step forward for Zimbabwean football.

“Although it is not directly in our hands now and being handled by the government, the Zifa Trust will definitely go a long way for not only the Warriors, but Zimbabwean football as a whole,” he said.

Mashingaidze pointed out the need for the trust to be re-established in a way that will make it sustainable as it were.

“The trust should not be just something we have before a major tournament or anything like that. We are supposed to make sure it runs outside those special events so that we are also able to take care of business on a day-to-day basis.

The other issues that were deliberated on during the indaba were the need for the refurbishment of the stadia in the country, the need to establish a league for secondary schools and how clubs in the Premier Soccer League could be strengthened,” Coltart revealed.

Coltart will soon present a document with all the deliberations made at that indaba to the Cabinet for endorsement.

If all is handled well and the trust is better regulated as the minister implies it will be, Zimbabwe football will regain its lost glory.

With the support of the corporate sector as has already been started by the establishment of the Mzansi90 fundraising committee — which is a group of businesspeople who have             set themselves out to support the  Warriors in preparation for their game against Angola and beyond — Afcon 2013 in particular.

The money will finance the Warriors’ winning and qualification bonuses, which have been pegged at $10 000 per player, appearance fees, camping allowances, accommodation, food and air travel for the players from European and South African

 

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Minister Summons Ethics Team

By David Coltart | Published September 30, 2012

The Standard

By Brian Nkiwane

30 September 2012

Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart has summoned the committee investigating the Asiagate scandal over the delay in the completion of investigations, Standardsport can reveal.

The Ethics Committee led by Judge Justice Ahmed Ibrahim is yet to conclude investigations into the scandal, which saw Zifa suspending more than 80 players, football administrators and match officials.

In the first phase of investigations, the committee cleared 33 players, but this time around, they have taken more than expected, prompting the government to summon the entire committee.

Speaking to Standardsport, Zifa president Cuthbert Dube said the government, Zifa, football stakeholders and fans were concerned by the delay.

“The government has become impatient with the delay leading to them summoning the Ethics Committee and the matter is set to be topical in Cabinet next (this) week. We are pushing hard that the committee discloses the contents of the final report, which they said is now at their printers, so that if they have cleared any other players, coaches can make final call-ups among those cleared to beef up our squad ahead of this do-or-die tie against Angola,” Dube said.

He added that they were not looking at anything short of qualifying for the bi-annual continental football showcase to be staged in South Africa next year.

“We would want to utilise everything, or let me say every player who will be found not guilty in the last 90 minutes before we qualify for South Africa.

“The government, therefore, thinks there’s some kind of sabotage that is going on within the investigating team. The team has not been forthcoming demanding their payment, but I have been paying the committee an average of US$10 000 per week,” he said.

Despite all this kind of motivation, the committee has not been able to finalise the investigation. Dube also revealed that the delay is set to cause a lot of problems for the football supreme body, as Fifa, which is supposed to pay for the investigation process, have already come out guns blazing and demanding the finalisation of the investigation.

“Fifa has given the Ethics Committee an altimatum. If they don’t present the final report before September 30, the football supreme board will no longer accept their charges and Zifa, which is under financial constraints, will shoulder the burden,” Dube added.

Meanwhile, apart from seeking allowances that Zifa has budgeted for the Warriors, Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze revealed that they were planning for a special morale boosting camp for the team.

“We are planning for a special camp as a way of motivating our players. Funds permitting, the special camp will be out of the country, but if funds do not allow, we will try to have the camp somewhere out of Harare. This will help our players mentally.

“Warriors will troop into camp on October 8 in Harare and by then we would have finalised the camping issue. We hope to travel with a 23-member squad as we look forward to having friendly matches along the way to Angola,” concluded Mashingaidze

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2012-09-30

By David Coltart | Published September 30, 2012
  • England 60 for 9 against India in t20 WC.Now that really does put Zimbabwe's performance into perspective. Chin up lads. Also welcome home. #
  • England have just avoided the lowest t20 total ever. #
  • England all out for 80 against India. Only batsman to get runs was Keiswetter, a South African. No wonder they need Zimbabwean Ballance! #
  • Clash of the 2 #Zimbabwean coaches Flower for England and Fletcher for India tonight. Perhaps Flower deferred to his senior! #
  • In clash between India and England tonight our Zim coaches Fletcher and Flower both did #Zimbabwe proud. Reminder of our cricket pedigree. #
  • Have just opened the Association of Trust Schools annual conference at Troutbeck which is still one of my favorite hotels in the world. #
  • Preparing for #Football indaba with ZIFA to be held tomorrow Wednesday 26th September in Harare. Time to sort out #Zimbabwe football. #
  • I agree that #Zim should play #Ireland more. Come and tour soon we would love to have you. http://t.co/pqPaTcJu via @espncricinfo #
  • Ironically @Irelandcricket had more int practice matches than Zimbabwe in run up to T20 WC. I agree #Zim needs to play them more. Come tour #
  • I agree that #Zim should play @Irelandcricket more. Come and tour soon we would love to have you. http://t.co/pqPaTcJu … via @espncricinfo #
  • Interesting that Brendan Taylor today bemoaned lack of matches Zim had. Makes sense if @Irelandcricket and #Zim play more versus each other #
  • Engaged a constructive and vigorous debate in #Football indaba with ZIFa and stakeholder in Harare. Football is more than sport, about pride #
  • Zimbabwe has under achieved in Football which is a national disgrace. We should have qualified for WC and Olympics by now, given talent. #
  • The state of our national morale is closely linked to our Football performance. Instead of being a source of pride has brought disgrace. #
  • All sectors need to contribute to stabilizing and rebuilding Football in #Zimbabwe – govt, corporates, local councils, ZIFA, players, media #
  • Firdose Moonda: Comeback trail no smooth ride for Zimbabwe http://t.co/xtEMxliJ via @espncricinfo #
  • Zimbabwe cricket faces financial crisis http://t.co/mIHuGz0o via @espncricinfo #
  • Dube, Coltart hail football indaba http://t.co/jqZDO3Ao via @newsdayzimbabwe #
  • Charity begins at home – application of Mugabe's UN speech to his obligations to #Zimbabwe http://t.co/DrykqIUb #
  • Cheering for ball in the water on 2nd and booing on 1st tee by US supporters against Europe hardly in the spirit of golf and the #Ryder Cup! #
  • Now laughter for Garcia's poor chip in #Ryder Cup. Come on USA supporters – you can respect the game of #golf better than that. #
  • Congrats to the #Zimbabwean Cheetahs yesterday for comfortably beating Namibia, Ivory Coast and Tunisia in #IRB Sevens #Rugby WC qualifier. #
  • Good luck to the Cheetahs in their semi/final matches today in #IRB Seven #Rugby World Cup qualifiers. Do #Zimbabwe proud as you always do. #
  • South Africa's T20 World Cup campaign seems to be evaporating before our eyes. Sorry for our southern African neighbours. #

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‘Schools can send pupils away over fees’

By David Coltart | Published September 29, 2012

The Sunday News

By Vusumuzi Dube

29 September 2012

EDUCATION, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Senator David Coltart, stirred a hornet’s nest after insisting that schools have the right to chase away students for non-payment of fees.

He said he would not give in to critics who have called on him to retract his statement.

The minister’s sentiments come in the wake of a backlash from parents who have criticised him for exhibiting double standards concerning the issue of school fees.

In an interview with Sunday News Minister Coltart said it had to be realised that schools needed the school fees for their day-to-day activities, thus the need for school heads to use whatever means possible to make pupils pay.

“People must differentiate between school fees and levies, fees are pegged by government and they range between US$5 and US$15, these are the charges which schools have the right to chase away pupils for. Besides these figures are just too minimal. It is really unfair to expect school authorities not to chase away students for this minimal figure,” said the minister.

He said unlike what has been said in the past that school authorities could face arrest if they chase away pupils, this only applied to levies and other incentives.

“Levies and incentives are derived by the school authorities together with the School Development Committees, these are the only charges where schools can’t excuse students from attending lessons. however we have a situation where some authorities take advantage of this directive to chase away the schoolchildren for both levies and incentives,” said Minister Coltart.

The minister also said they were putting in place mechanisms that would see them monitor all schools in the management of teacher incentives, adding that some schools were now taking advantage of the laxity of laws to charge exorbitant amounts.

“I am on record as saying incentives are a necessary ill because right now we cannot even offer these teachers conducive salaries so the incentives are the only route to go but we are now tightening monitoring mechanisms because some schools are just charging what they feel like charging and we have to seriously discourage this,” he said.

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Curriculum review under way

By David Coltart | Published September 29, 2012

The Sunday News

By Lulu Brenda Harris

29 September 2012

THE Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture has begun reviewing the education curriculum following revelations that the current curriculum is responsible for the overall decline in the quality of education as O-level examination results have been consistently poor for the past 10 years.

According to a survey conducted by the ministry, grade seven pupils performances have also shown a significant drop from pass rates of over 70 percent in 2007 to less than 40 percent in 2009.

The education ministry is conducting the curriculum review exercise in a bid to provide upgraded learning content with a focus on relevant cultural contexts.

Education minister, Senator David Coltart, said the ministry had to provide a solution that would work practically rather than continuing with an overly academic outdated set, which contributed less to skills.

Sen Coltart said a detailed plan for the curriculum was already under way and the initial plan was to hold a workshop in early December for all stakeholders.

He said the ministry was involved in extensive open consultation with a broad rage of education and community stakeholders to take on the review process.

“We cannot hold this curriculum review exercise in isolation. We have to include a variety of stakeholders because the curriculum review is for every school level from the Early Childhood Development (ECD), primary up to secondary school level. This will focus on targeted subject specific technical assistance from the development of syllabi, targeted training of the Curriculum Development Unit (CDU) personnel and a phase approach to material development and field testing and review,” he said.

The minister said the ministry would seek technical assistance to help the ministry in developing a competency based curriculum framework to use as a basis of ongoing public consultation.

“We are talking about including practical subjects like agriculture, industry, commerce, tourism, football and so on. At the ongoing football indaba, we also mentioned that we have to nurture talent at an early age. That is why we have to recruit subject specific curriculum specialists to assist in creating a set of syllabi for each grade and school level,” he said.

Sen Coltart said partners were coming in to provide the funding.

“The Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa has contributed $3 million dollars while the Government will provide for the CDU personnel,” he said.

In 1999, President Mugabe’s Commission of Inquiry report into Education and Training known as the Nziramasanga Report identified Zimbabwe’s curriculum as needing a major review.

For example, it cited how in the current curriculum, primary schooling is highly congested with 13 independent subjects and provided limited options for alternative learning streams.

The Presidential Commission recommended the introduction of a more competency based learning approach, which is linked to industrial needs.

While this report was made over 19 years ago, the implementation of many of its recommendations was impossible given the economic constraints that Zimbabwe faced during that time.

However, the education ministry still considers the report to be important and relevant even for the present time.

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Fifa stops ethics committee funding

By David Coltart | Published September 29, 2012

The Sunday News

29 September 2012

TODAY is the last day that Fifa had committed itself to funding the Zifa Independent Ethics Commission (IEC) set up to investigate the Asiagate scam.

The world football’s governing body Fifa had indicated they are willing to fund the committee only up to 30 September and the cash strapped national mother-body will have to foot the rest of the bill.

Fifa, which has been making efforts to stamp out match-fixing in the game, agreed to fund the committee as Zifa was finding it difficult to pay for the work of the commission.

An official at Zifa, unauthorised to speak to the Press, confirmed the cut off date by Fifa and expressed worry over delays in the release of the report.

According to media reports the report is complete and is being printed.

“As you might be aware, (Zifa president) (Cuthbert) Dube demanded the report from the committee because they promised it will be available early this month.

“We need to have this issue behind us and we move on. We will, however, have to wait for the report,” he said.

Efforts to get an official comment from Zifa were fruitless.

The Asiagate investigation was also an issue at the recently held football indaba that included various parties including Zifa, the Minister of Sport, David Coltart, Sports and Recreation Commission among others.

Delegates at the meeting expressed dismay at the delay of concluding the match-fixing saga, stating that it should come to a closure soon if Zimbabwean football is to move on.

Sources at Zifa said there were worries about the delays in the release of the report because of its implications on the pending qualifying Warriors match against Angola on 14 October in Luanda.

The sources said there were suspicions that the failure by the IEC to clear more players could have a negative effect on team selection.

“If the IEC managed to absolve 33 players in April, why has it taken them so long to clear others? If they cannot release the whole report why not name a few players who have no case to answer?

“Or are they telling us the rest of the players fingered in the report are guilty?” asked the source.

The source added there was fear that the Asiagate masterminds could have infiltrated the committee in order to discredit the association by ensuring the Warriors’ failure to go through to the 2013 Afcon, although there is no evidence to prove such claims.

“The Warriors technical department needs all players at their disposal and if the IEC was working in the interest of the nation then they would release the names of the cleared players to ensure they play a role in assisting the Warriors qualify for the 2013 Afcon.

“I do not think those behind Asiagate would want to see the team succeed and the IEC is yet to give Zifa any plausible reasons on why they are yet to release the report, raising fears there could have been infiltration,” said the source, who declined to be named for fear of victimisation.

Dube is reported to have clashed with Emmanuel Chimwanda, a key official in the IEC over the delays in releasing the report.

The committee was appointed in October last year to bring to finality investigations into the suspected match-fixing scam that saw almost 100 players suspended from national duty and five elected officials suspended from the Zifa board.

Our sister paper Chronicle reported that Zifa demanded that the Asiagate report be released without further delay, not only to pacify a restive nation but also to clear players who might have been found not guilty and are needed for the senior national team’s final 2013 Africa Cup of Nations second leg qualifier against Angola next month.

Efforts to get a comment from Chimwanda and other members of the IEC were fruitless.

 

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Teachers should develop an interest in ICTs says Coltart

By David Coltart | Published September 29, 2012

Bulawayo 24 NEWS

By Staff Reporter

29 September 2012

Minister of Education, Art, Sports, and Culture David Coltart has said Zimbabwe’s education system should act as a vehicle for change and development through the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), which promote connectivity across the globe.

Speaking during the Matabeleland South Schools’ Provincial Merit Awards in Maphisa, Matobo District yesterday, Minister Coltart said the country’s education curriculum was not keeping pace with technological advancements in the world.
He said it was through interactions with the world and global economies that pupils and students could be confident in their work.
The flexibility of ICTs makes it possible to access resource persons, professionals, experts, researchers and authors. Through ICTs, pupils can appreciate the diversity of cultures and changes in the world.
“While ICTs might be expensive, they have the advantage of being used by a larger group at one time and the materials will be very current and presented in various forms suitable to the learners’ interests and diverse learning environments,” said Minister Coltart.
He challenged teachers to develop interest in ICTs so that they cascade the culture of using ICTs to their pupils.
“Teachers have to be developed into the use of ICTs in the classrooms. Colleges and universities need to train their students similarly. The use of radio and television based teacher education is also important, as it highly motivates pupils.
“It is difficult for the Government to rehabilitate school libraries in all the districts. That is why ICTs are valuable because we can use computers to ensure access of every useful book to our children,” he said.
Minister Coltart bemoaned the lack of electricity in most rural and satellite schools, saying there was need for concerted efforts in overcoming the challenge.
“Electricity problems are a major hindrance to the use of ICTs. However, if we all come together and collectively pool our resources together, we can have a great impact on the acquisition of alternative sources of energy.
“I would like to encourage all stakeholders to harness all our energies and efforts, and meaningfully move towards the acquisition and utilisation of ICTs,” said Minister Coltart.
The Matabeleland South Provincial Education Director, Mrs Tumisang Thabela said the staffing situation in the province continued to be substandard in both primary and secondary schools.
“We have shortfalls of 128 and 99 teachers in primary and secondary schools respectively, although there was a slight improvement in the humanities and languages departments.
“The continued freeze on new teaching posts negatively affects us because we cannot employ our full establishment,” said Mrs Thabela.
She also bemoaned the dismal performance of pupils at all levels that is being worsened by several untrained teachers.
“About 40 percent of our staff is untrained and this is negatively impacting on our schools’ performance. Our pupils are doing badly at public examinations.
“Although our results are slowly improving, we are still far from our targets especially at Grade Seven and O ‘Level,” said Mrs Thabela
She said the province had moved a step further and partnered with the University of Science and Technology (Nust) in a programme, which is meant to make pupils appreciate Mathematics.

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