Roseline Mutare
Masvingo – The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, in partnership with United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has launched a heritage-based education project aimed at promoting cultural diversity and identity among students.
The project, which is being implemented in 12 schools across Namibia and Zimbabwe, seeks to integrate living heritage into basic education. In Zimbabwe, three provinces, Masvingo, Manicaland, and Matabeleland, were chosen to implement the project.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerayi Moyo, was the guest of honor at the high-level dialogue for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in basic education in Namibia and Zimbabwe, held this week at Sikato Primary School in Masvingo.
Speaking at the event, Minister Moyo emphasized the importance of heritage-based education in promoting creativity and identity among students.
“This project allows students to have a creative mind and keep their identity, as the ministry it is our duty to set a heritage based curriculum in the students minds so that they are not colonized, children should be taught in their indigenous languages,” said the Minister.
Sikato Primary School is one of the beneficiaries of the project in Masvingo, along with Nemamwa Primary, Zishumbe Primary, and Deza Primary schools.
The national professional officer UNESCO regional office for southern Africa represented Dzikamai Mapfumo, said the project’s primary objective is to develop a methodological framework for integrating living heritage into basic education, with a focus on school-based learning and strengthening the capacity of teachers and educational stakeholders.
“UNESCO has engaged regional experts to develop a policy brief for Namibia and Zimbabwe, which provides input for the implementation of policies supporting the integration of living heritage in basic education,” he said.
The policy brief is expected to initiate discussions on the integration of living heritage in basic education and explore strategies to ensure the institutionalization of heritage-based education within national education systems.
