– Govt develops new school curriculum

—–Government has developed a new school curriculum that will enable learners to choose a career path and guidance framework on the preferred type of education for the nation.

And a study on the Zambian literacy levels has revealed that the country is placed second from the bottom out of the 15 countries in the sub region that were surveyed for three years.

Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Minister, John Phiri, said the framework provides curriculum guidelines and structures at all education levels.

Dr Phiri explained that the framework is being piloted in selected districts and schools in all the ten provinces that will be evaluated before being fully implemented in January, 2014.

He was speaking after witnessing trial lessons at David Kaunda National Technical Secondary School before launching the trialling phase of the revised school curriculum in Lusaka today.

Dr Phiri stated that the new national curriculum framework has reviewed the structure of the curriculum at all levels.

Earlier, David Kaunda National Technical Secondary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) chairperson, Martin Mwale, commended government for responding positively to concerns by parents against the current curriculum.

Mr Mwale said he is hopeful that the revised curriculum will be responsive to the needs of individual learners and equip them to contribute effectively to national development.

Meanwhile, Dr Phiri has disclosed that a study conducted by the Southern African Consortium for Measuring Education Quality (SACMEQ) survey results from 2007 to 2010 has Zambia second last out of 15 countries surveyed.

Dr Phiri explained that the results place Zambia second from the bottom out of 15 countries in the sub-region in terms of Grade 5 and 6 learners’ literacy levels.

He pointed out that the research results by the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) over the same period have almost yielded the same depressing results.

Dr Phiri added that there is evidence that the school system at Grades 7 and 9 throws out learners who have no skills to survive on their own because the current curriculum prepares learners for white collar jobs.