ENTERPRISING stationery dealers across the country have reportedly taken advantage of the hasty launch of the new education curriculum and are making brisk business selling photocopies of the new curriculum to desperate primary school teachers for as much as $10.
BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
The new curriculum, which has generated a lot of controversy among teachers and parents, who argue they should have been consulted before the launch, comes into effect when schools open for the first term today.
Education minister Lazarus Dokora says the curriculum is aimed at modernising the education system, including introducing more subjects at infant levels.
But, teachers have also claimed that they were caught unprepared and did not have the requisite teaching material, which is now readily available on the streets, where vendors are charging $10 for a copy of the scheme.
“I have no option but to buy it from the experts. We have no clue of the new curriculum. It requires lots of labour to scheme it, it is monotonous, as well. There is too much content needed in some subjects. The lessons are too much for some grades particularly ECD. We have no option but to buy it,” a Marondera teacher who declined to be named, said.
Subjects like indigenous language, visual and performing arts (expressive arts), physical education, mass displays, mathematics and science and social studies (family and heritage studies) have been added at infant level.
Another teacher said: “If you buy a soft copy of the scheme, you just edit it and print. It is easy that way.”
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But, Primary and Secondary deputy minister Paul Mavhima yesterday said teachers should desist from purchasing the schemes from the streets.
“This is not advisable. No one should buy the schemes; the teachers should prepare the schemes themselves. If anyone is buying from such places, he or she is being duped. They are giving people money, we do not advise that.
They (sellers) are taking advantage that there is a new curriculum, this is a scam. People should avoid buying those schemes for the better of the children. We will investigate the matter,” he said.
