Educationwise: 2016 in retrospect

30 Dec, 2016 - 00:12 0 Views
Educationwise: 2016 in retrospect

The ManicaPost

Morris Mtisi Post Correspondent —
ONE more day tomorrow, and 2016 is gone and gone forever. There shall never be another 2016, on earth, in heaven or hell. We thank God for schools and those who plan the education, the learners, teachers and those who monitor progress in the sector.

I have enjoyed following what goes on in the schools for The Manica Post and DiamondFM Radio and hope in a small way joyfully illustrated how both our newspaper and radio can be used as tools of educational development.

It is my hope, given the privilege and space, that in 2017 I can initiate more columns and programmes to complement effort of the two Ministries of Education to use education as a tool for personal and national development.

For now let us look at 2016 in retrospect.
What were the attractions, detractions and challenges? Obviously there were many of the above that one can write about. But I will focus on only 3 areas which I believe were big items on the education story: the new curriculum, the Manicaland merit awards, St Faiths and Chancellor Primary School pass rate magic.

The year 2016 took over the people’s perceptions of the proposed new curriculum from 2015’s opinions and views. There was a lot of brainstorming over the issue of the new curriculum most of it to begin with verging on the brinks of brain-damaging indeed.

Some critics started off by shooting the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education-Dr LD, saying he did not consult ‘everyone’, others saying we are not ready for changes and besides, where are the resources to implement such a drastic reformation of the education sector.

Some sounding more political or legalistic, may be both, said the Minister’s ideas, dreams and vision, no matter how optimistic, could not and cannot translate to policy. Some calling it unlawful Law!

For this education observer and critic, I thought everyone, including the wrong ones and mischievous ones, even the slightly mentally unhealthy all were right. That is what happens in a democracy. People speak their mind, no matter how ill-informed or wrong they may be.

The good news is that now everybody seems to be convinced that the new curriculum is the best way to go. The colonial system which produced job seekers must be forgotten now. It is as old fashioned and not worth remembering as colonialism itself.

Zimbabwe needs an education system that produces job creators driven by 21st century skills, not job seekers who know a lot but cannot do anything with that knowledge. The days of exit profiles that boasted heavy doses of knowledge but could not do anything with it must be assisted to exit the stage and in must come an era of skills, skills and skills.

The new curriculum aims at developing the whole child: his or her Head, the Heart and the Hands. This shift of attention, approach and emphasis introduces a new concept and percept of teaching and learning aimed at fitness for purpose, not just unusable doses of knowledge.

2016 concluded the debates, disillusions and misconceptions on the new curriculum and brought in receptiveness enhanced by training workshops all over the provinces and districts of the country. 2017 awaits full blown implementation of the major national education policy. Notwithstanding the teething challenges obviously to be met along the way, all Zimbabweans must religiously support the implementation of the new curriculum and jealously guard it against both direct and indirect saboteurs.

THE MANICALAND MERIT AWARDS.
The Manicaland Merit Awards (MMA) was a huge and colourful success. But first, what was it?

The MMA was the baby of the provincial education director, Mr Edward Shumba. It brought together all secondary school and high school heads to celebrate teaching and learning excellence through awarding outstanding performers with various forms of prizes and trophies.

It was a first of its kind in Manicaland. Celebrated at Chancellor Primary School  the Merit Awards saw Mr Shumba not only as a busy provincial chief executive (Education)representing government in the province, but also as a first class motivator of his foot-soldiers galvanizing them into busy and constructive competitors.

A merit awards event celebrating the same for primary schools followed later on in the year at Mutare Boys High School. This proved the same said about the PED above and emphasized how Shumba is not only just a ‘roaring lion’ but a man on a mission. What Mission? A mission to make Manicaland lead, and to quote his favourite words, “and the rest follow.”

The province looks forward to more and bigger merit awards in the coming years.

Last but not least, is the continuous ‘madness’ of Chancellor Primary School and St Faith’s High School to run with the baton over the hills and far away from everyone else.

The two Manicaland schools again for the umpteenth time refused to run in the same race with the rest. They continued to run their own race each against itself and not allowing any school to be too close in contention.

What a feat of academic excellence for the two Manicaland schools!  Lifting the national flag higher than all others! Making Manicaland, according to PED Shumba, “…lead and the rest follow!”

I tried all I could in vain to bring Chancellor Primary School to DiamondFM Radio to share with the public the secret or magic in ‘his’ feat of above 70 four-unit pupils in every year’s examinations. Come on Mr Chihohwa! This is a good story not only for your school but for Zimbabwe as a whole.

How do you do it? What is at Chancellor that is not found in other schools? Come share that magic with the rest. Wisdom is not like money, hidden and kept out of the sight of the public.

Once it is known, every school shall be a Chancellor Primary, and that is what we all want, not just one Chancellor, One Primary School! I do have hope ‘m’dhara Chihohwa vachauya’ so that we can talk and educate all school heads on how it is done.

Moses Mukoyi (St Faith’s) has been on DiamondFM before. Thank you sir! Any school head who wants the down-loaded radio programme HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH MM with Mr Mukoyi can contact me for a copy. But hey, Mr Mukoyi, this time I want two teachers and two students on radio to confirm the St Faith’s ‘magic’ for the benefit of other schools and students.  What about that sir in January 2017?

At the time of doing this write-up, 2017 results are not yet out. But we all know. Manicaland will do it again. Chancellor has already done it again, as they did 2014 and 2015.  St Faith’s will enhance the conquest again. Mark my words!

The education sector in 2016 had its share of sad news. Like 2015 in which we lost school heads and teachers like Peter Mwonzora(St Mathias-Tsonzo), Matthew Tondoya (Mutare Boys High), Richard Tizora (Senior lecturer-Mutare Teachers’ College), 2016 lost Mrs Juliet Moyo, Mrs Bessie Chitsva and Mrs Mupiko (all of Baring Primary School).

What a tragedy in one year! Many more that may have escaped the attention of the media. May their souls rest in peace and may those remaining find inspiration and energy to continue fighting the Chimurenga war against poverty and ignorance through education!  May we all find peace and comfort in God our creator in 2017!

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