5 compulsory subjects for O-Level
◆ syllabus review. Secondary school levels will continue to use the syllabi until December 31, 2024 after syllabus review.
“In Forms One to Four, all learners study the following five core and compulsory learning areas: (1) Mathematics (ii) English Language (iii) Indigenous Language and Literature (iv) Combined Science (v) Heritage Studies. In addition, learners also study at least three necessary electives.”
The circular further clarifies that the learner can now select three more subjects of their choice from a cluster of sciences, languages, humanities, commercials, technical and vocational education, physical education and arts.
The recommended number of learning areas for study per learner is eight.
On its implementation modalities, on Part 3.3.2, which deals with Upper Secondary School Level (Form Five and Form Six), the circular reads: “Form Five and Form Six learners will study learning areas according to the career pathway.
A learner is placed into a pathway of choice using the acquired competencies (knowledge, skills and values) and profile record.
“All learning areas have the same weight. The curriculum promotes five pathways which are Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM): Visual Performing Arts; Technical and Vocational Education and Training; Humanities and Commercials.”
The pathways for STEM, for example, has learning areas that include Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Software Engineering, Computer Science, Agriculture, Geography,
Physical Education, Sports and Mass Displays, while the Humanities pathway has Sociology, Indigenous Literature, Foreign Language, Heritage Studies, Art, Physical Education, Sports and Mass Displays.
Commercials pathway has Economics, Business Enterprise, Agribusiness, Physical Education, Sports and Mass Displays, Software Engineering and Computer Science.
Visual and Performing Arts pathway has learning areas that include Film, Music, Theatre Arts, Physical Education, Sports and Mass Displays, Computer Science and Software Engineering.
The Heritage-Based Education 20242030 Curriculum Framework is expected to transform the education system in order to produce citizens with relevant skills, applied knowledge, values, and dispositions that are key to national development, beginning with the communities they serve.
Zimbabwe Rural Teachers’ Union (ZRTU) president, Mr Martin Chaburumunda said the capping of the number of subjects at O and A-Level resonates with the plight of the rural child who was being pressurised to match standards being set by their counterparts at boarding and elite schools.
He said in the past, some learners were registering more than 20 subjects, while rural learners struggled to register eight.
“The rural learner was being eclipsed even they register seven subjects and score As by their boarding counterparts who register 15 subjects and score 15As. This will help ground our learners on a particular pathway. Our education should be career pathway-oriented,” he said.