MARTIN MAWAYA
SHURUGWI-Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE), Tamsung Thabela said the Early Learning Policy will help to inculcate a reading culture and work as a firm foundation that enhances literacy and numeracy competences in learners.
Thabela said foundational learning will develop young pupils towards a successful and progressive educational journey.
She said this during the presentation of the Secretary’s Merit Award at Impali Primary School in Shurugwi.
“The adoption of the Early Learning Policy earlier this year by the Government of Zimbabwe will accord the Ministry an opportunity to push for robust programming that will ensure the optimal development of both literacies and numeracies that can best prepare our young pupils for a fruitful educational journey.
“The inculcation of a reading culture amongst our infant pupils will give a firm foundation in the provision of basic education and enable them to succeed as they move to higher grades,” said Thabela.
She said the foundational learning will encompass reading, writing, arithmetic, digital literacy and financial literacy.
Furthermore, the early learning which will be implemented in the period of five years, is aimed at strengthening and harmonizing the implementation of infant education and ensure high quality learning programmes.
Thabela added that the MoPSE is working on strengthening foundational literacy through the acquisition of mobile science laboratories for primary schools.
She said it is imperative to introduce STEM learning at ECD level.
“It is imperative to introduce STEM learning from as early as ECD in an effort to groom and tap talent in the learning pathway before these learners’ transition to high school,” she said.
She pointed out that the industrialization of education begins with a clear focus on the translation of science principles into technological innovations, hence the need to start working on applied education from the foundational level.
Meanwhile, the permanent secretary urged school authorities and the education sector to come up with strategies that help to curb the prevalence of drug and substance abuse in schools.
“We need, as schools to strengthen our surveillance around the safety of our pupils working with families, community leadership, the church and youth leadership both within the schools and outside because negative peer pressure can militate against our success,” added Thabela.
She highlighted that engaging in career service fairs, community service fairs, door to door awareness campaigns and group counseling initiatives can help to tackle bullying as well as the drug and substance abuse menace.
She encouraged the use of interactive platforms to “spread campaigns against bullying, drug and substance abuse in schools”.
