PTUZ PETITION TO THE PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE ON THE HURRIED AND CHAOTIC IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW CURRICULUM.

noting that Curriculum Change is noble bearing in mind that such a change must involve widespread consultation of all stock and stakeholders and the allocation of resources, re-skilling of teachers, piloting the project and validating the process.
recognizing that our current curriculum process was hurried, chaotic, shambolic and lacking in the provision of syllabi resources, focus, direction and national consensus on content.
determined to ensure that our education system provides the basic cognitive skills necessary to maintain and expand the country`s particular pattern of development and to inculcate in its recipients the values of our society which are all lacking in the New Curriculum.
acknowledging that education is an immensely complex subject, one in which professionals from different disciplines, economists, sociologists, psychologists, religious groups, industrialists, employers, administrators, peasants, CSO`s, special interest groups , marginalized, the poor traditionalists, educationists, universities, colleges, schools and students all have a contribution to make.
stating that the current thrust of the new Curriculum is far from what the 1999 Nziramasanga Commission sought to achieve
observing that, not only is the current initiative hurried and limited in scope but also conflicting the current educational thrust as enunciated in STEM and Agenda 2030 principles
A summary of our observations on the New Curriculum include but not limited to the following:
1) We have been reduced to clerks
2) There is no time for lesson delivery
3) There are no learning /teaching materials
4) Classes are too big considering the prescribed Teacher/Pupil ratio of the New Curriculum.
5) Assessment of the Practical Components is not feasible.
6) ICT not practical in Rural Schools and even some urban Schools
7) Teachers not properly Staff Developed for the ICT Component
8) Mismatch of Teachers and Subjects which will result in forced transfers
9) NO Guidelines/Specimens on Continuous Assessment 5 weeks into the Term (purely a recipe for abuse)
10) Timetables are completely overcrowded.
11) Schools with hot sitting can't function.
12) Teaching cycles affecting sequence of school syllabus from 5 to 6 day cycles.
13) PE as a compulsory subject has no resource/Text books/no precedent/no equipment/no facilities/no reference texts
14) Mass Display as a compulsory subject has no teachers/no literature/no specimens/no reference texts
15) New Curriculum excludes and shuts the door for repeaters.
16) Introduction of Non Formal Education is burdening the same teacher and adding more confusion.
17) Serious challenges associated with non-formal education.
18) Conflict with society highly likely as adolescent youths, young teachers, married women, all congregate at night.
19) Headmasters not adequately Staff Developed on this New Concept and New Curriculum.
20) Legal framework must be revisited and should be conscious to the new realities on the ground
21) Payments for the NFE duties are hazy and not well explained.
22) Primary kids are overloaded. Content is too broad and too deep.
23) Schools are forced to fund printing of syllabi. Burden has been passed to poor parents.
24) STEM and New Curriculum are conflicting. (Why make Heritage Studies/Agriculture/Mass Displays and PE Compulsory and relegate STEM Subjects to Electives/Optional.
25) Government policy of Teacher Recruitment freeze is working against the successful implementation of the New Curriculum
26) The haphazard chaotic impromptu half baked and fast tracked implementation raises more questions than answers. We are convinced there are underhand shenanigans going on. Serious monopolies and cartels can run away and enrich themselves along the way.
27) The 10 subject ceiling is retrogressive and unnecessary. Allow our geniuses to excel
28) Kids getting home very late into the night and susceptible to thugs
We now therefore:
Call upon the August House to urgently stop the implementation of the New Curriculum in its current form
Appeal to the August House to interrogate the process under which hall-barked curriculum was implemented without necessary checks and balances.
Implore the August House to ensure the allocation of adequate resources before implementation of the New Curriculum.
Call for an all stock and stakeholder conference to interrogate the nature and mechanics of successfully implementing a New Curriculum.
The PTUZ believes consultation, dialogue and transparency are critical if this is to succeed. Up to now stakeholders are yet to be fully consulted. We owe no one an apology for our views. President RG Mugabe must be reminded that his wonderful legacy on Education is seriously under threat. There is no harm in going back to the drawing board. The earlier we do so the better.
VIVA PTUZ VIVA