The party’s “Agenda for Real Transformation” policy document acknowledges that the provision of education is a basic human right and advocates the merging of the Ministries of Education, Sports and Culture, Higher and Tertiary Education and the Science and Technology Development into a single Ministry of Education.
Educational institutions would operate as independent entities and teachers would not be civil servants but be employed by the individual bodies “even if the majority of the funding would be coming from government”.
The party plans to focus on the provision of “relevant curricula and methodologies” aided by “stimulating learning materials, skilled and gendered sensitive personnel and adequate funding”.
Zimbabwe’s education sector, once widely acknowledged as one of the best on the continent, has been in severe decline since the turn of the century. “The decline of the economy since the 1998 has resulted in the decimation of the education sector and most of the progress made since Independence has been wiped out,” the policy says.
The sector is reeling from losses in manpower, resources, low morale and declining standards and confidence. Finance Minister Tendai Biti told scores of MDC-T supporters at a star rally on Sunday in Highfield that 2007-2008 were the worst years for education in a ‘dark decade’.
“There was a total of only 27 school days for the whole year in 2008,” Biti said.
On curricula, the party said it would deliberately shift bias towards sciences, mathematics, information technology, technical subjects, commercial and management skills, HIV and AIDS, family health and life skills. Another highlight would be the establishment of centres for technical thinking and innovation.
The MDC also wants evaluation mechanisms to ensure that children leaving primary school are assessed and prepared for secondary school education. The Zimbabwe Junior Certificate would make a return under an MDC-T government. Those who complete junior secondary school would progress either to further academic qualifications or towards qualifications in technical, commercial or vocational subjects. A technical secondary school system would be introduced as an alternative to the ‘O’ level system.
The policy also talks about giving the teaching of indigenous languages “its rightful place in school”.
For Early Childhood Development the MDC would introduce notions of science and mathematics at ECD schools. Training of teachers would be treated as a matter of urgency with all institutions of higher learning required to examine the possibility of issuing education diplomas and degrees.
The MDC said it would also review all recently established universities and colleges with a view to upgrading their capacity to operate at university or college level and university councils would have full independence from the state.
The policy is dependent on foreign support as the cost to restore the sector will be enormous. Biti pledged but at least 25 percent of the national budget to education. The Basic Education Social Grant Fund would be transferred from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to the Ministry of Education.
Post published in: News