Schools must adopt govt’s Early Learning Policy, s...

Schools must adopt govt’s Early Learning Policy, says Education ministry

Zim Now Writer

Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has said schools must adopt the Early Learning Policy introduced by government to impart requisite literacy and numerical competencies in pupils.

This was revealed by Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Tumisang Thabela who said the policy strives to ensure that all pupils have literacy and numeracy competencies at a young age through allowing learners access to quality and inclusive learning opportunities in conducive environments.

Thabela was speaking at Victoria Government Junior School, where she was presenting the school with the 2020 Secretary’s Merit Award last week.

She said the policy came on the backdrop of the Zimbabwe Early Learning Assessment conducted from 2021-2022, which showed that at least 20 percent of learners get into Grade Three without the requisite literacy and numerical competencies.

“The country adopted the Early Learning Policy earlier this year to push for robust programming to ensure the optimal development of both literacies and numeracy that can best prepare our young pupils for a fruitful educational journey. We thus need to work extra hard to eliminate the over 20% of pupils that proceed to Grade 3 without the requisite literacy and numeracy competencies, as revealed in our Zimbabwe Early Learning Assessment for the past two years.

“Foundational Learning and the Development of the Early Learning Policy: The provision of early childhood education is one of the best investments that Zimbabweans can make in the promotion of the holistic development of its children. If we get the foundation right, the learning outcomes for children improve,” said Thabela.

Thabela said that the curriculum is learner-centred and emphasises learner competencies over superficial knowledge, thereby exposing learners to hard and soft skills, which are requisite in solving problems.

She said projects schools engage in such as poultry, rabbit rearing, and gardening impart crucial practical skills to pupils from a tender age.