Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Education Profile
2015/01/25
When Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980, the majority of its people did not have access to quality schooling. Most only finished seven years of primary schooling. During the first 25 years of independence, the government in partnership with local communities, made great strides in the building of schools, teacher training and resource improvement. As a result Zimbabwe boasts of one of the highest literacy rates in sub-Saharan Africa.
Zimbabwe's education system consists of 7 years of primary and 6 years of secondary schooling, before students can enter tertiary institutions. Most Zimbabweans children, between 4-6 years, attend pre-schools, and begin Grade 1 during the year in which they turn six. On average pupils enter Secondary school at the age of 13 years and complete Form 4 or Form 6 at 16 and 18 respectively.
National exams are written at the end of Grade 7, in Mathematics, English, Shona/Ndebele and a General Paper. The Primary school curriculum offers a total of 13 subjects. Grade 1 to 3 are taught in the mother language. Practical subjects are non-examinable but schools offer such subjects according to their resources, i.e. Art and Craft, House Economics, Music, Sports, Physical Education.
At secondary school there are two terminal examinations: The "Ordinary Level Certificate Examination" taken after four years of secondary education and the "Advanced Level Certificate Examination" taken after six years.
At Ordinary Level pupils required to pass a minimum of (5) subjects which should include, English, Mathematics, Science, History or one of the Technical/Vocational subjects so as to earn a full certificate.
Subjects currently on offer for "O" Level examinations include:
* Sciences: Biology, Mathematics, Integrated Sciences, Physics, Chemistry
* Liberal Arts: English Literature, Religious Studies, History, Geography
* Commercial Subjects: Commerce, Economics, Computer Studies, Accounts
* Languages: English, French, Shona, Ndebele, German, Latin
* Practical Subjects: Woodwork, Metalwork, Agriculture, Technical Drawing, Fashion and Fabrics, Food and Nutrition
At Advanced Level a minimum of two subjects is required for a full certificate.
Advanced Level Subjects Offered:
* Languages: English, Shona, Ndebele, French, Portuguese, German, Spanish
* Science: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Computing
* Mathematics: Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Statistics * Humanities: Geography, History, Divinity
* Technical/Vocational: Accounting, Economics, Management of Business (MOB), Business Studies
Massive Changes have been made to the school curriculum in the last 15 years. The new thrust is towards provision of Technical/Vocational Education and enhancement of Mathematics, Science and Technology.
There has also been a shift from the provision of quantitative education to the attainment of quality education. Entry qualifications for Teacher Training Colleges, for those intending to teach at Primary school level is a minimum of 5 "O" Levels and English is a compulsory subject. The duration of the training programme is three years.
Teachers recruited to teach in secondary schools should have degrees, diplomas or certificates in education. A survey carried out in 2000 established that about 7.4 per cent of teachers teaching in secondary schools were untrained.
Government pays for all teachers on the official establishment of schools, but should the school wish to have additional staff, above its quota, then the School Development Association has the mandate to engage and pay such teachers.
Schools in Zimbabwe are run by Rural District Councils, Government, Churches, Mining Companies, Urban Councils, Trust Boards, and privately. Government contributes through per capita grants. Private Schools charge high fees in the form of levies. School Development Associations also fund raise in order to support the funding of extra teaching staff, the building of additional facilities and equipment.
Tertiary Institutions
Zimbabwe has witnessed a major expansion in the of tertiary institutions now offering Diplomas, degrees and post-graduate qualifications
At independence Zimbabwe had one national university offering diplomas and degrees. Zimbabwe currently has 7 public universities, including a University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo; four church related universities, and a women's university, that are fully internationally accredited. Zimbabwe also has an Open University for those who cannot attend residential university programmes. A number of teacher training, and technical colleges offer diplomas and degrees in business and technical subjects.
Zimbabwe has in the last few years seen a mushrooming of private institutions also offering diplomas and degrees. All such institutions have to be registered with the Ministry of Higher Education before they can operate.
A successful adult literacy programme was launched in 1982, in order to provide functional literacy to adults who did not have an opportunity to attend school. Zimbabwe has a literacy rate of 96 per cent, one of the highest in the Southern African region.
INSTITUTIONS/GRADUATES 2004, 2005 & 2006
|
year / no. of institutions |
||
TYPE OF INSTITUTIONS |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
STATE PRIMARY TEACHERS' COLLEGES |
7 |
8 |
8 |
PRIVATE PRIMARY TEACHERS' COLLEGES |
3 |
3 |
3 |
STATE SECONDARY TEACHERS' COLLEGES |
3 |
3 |
3 |
STATE POLYTECHNICS |
8 |
8 |
8 |
STATE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES |
2 |
2 |
2 |
PRIVATE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES |
2 |
2 |
2 |
PRIVATE TECHNICAL COLLEGES |
277 |
277 |
277 |
STATE UNIVERSITIES |
7 |
8 |
9 |
PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES |
4 |
4 |
4 |
TOTAL |
313 |
314 |
315 |
Source: Ministry of Education, Zimbabwe3
TEACHERS COLLEGES GRADUATES 2003, 2004 AND 2005
COLLEGE / YEAR |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
BELVEDERE |
455 |
405 |
415 |
BONDOLFI |
200 |
442 |
257 |
JOSHUA M NKOMO |
485 |
576 |
808 |
HILLSIDE |
459 |
545 |
547 |
MARYMOUNT |
451 |
300 |
496 |
MASVINGO |
297 |
326 |
554 |
MKOBA |
430 |
318 |
306 |
MORGAN |
354 |
277 |
287 |
MORGENSTER |
413 |
322 |
325 |
MUTARE |
729 |
218 |
205 |
NYADIRE |
369 |
269 |
261 |
SEKE |
455 |
435 |
438 |
UNITED COLLEGE OF EDUCATION |
412 |
535 |
408 |
TOTAL |
5509 |
4995 |
5307 |
N.B. The State Secondary Teacher's Colleges are Belvedere, Mutare and Hillside. There are eleven (11) Primary Teachers' Colleges. Nyadire, Bondolfi and Morgenster are Private Primary Teachers' Colleges while the rest are state colleges.
POLYTECHNICS AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES GRADUATES 2002 - 2005
POLYTECHNICS |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
Harare Poly |
1422 |
2230 |
2265 |
2300 |
Bulawayo Poly |
1203 |
1573 |
1854 |
2186 |
Mutare Poly |
524 |
1006 |
985 |
965 |
Kushinga Poly |
363 |
484 |
324 |
425 |
Masvingo Poly |
544 |
785 |
1088 |
1508 |
Kwekwe Poly |
424 |
780 |
642 |
730 |
Gweru Poly |
452 |
578 |
405 |
532 |
Harare Institute of Technology (*) |
170 |
204 |
479 |
1125 |
sub-Total |
5102 |
7640 |
8042 |
9770 |
STATE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES |
||||
Msasa Industrial Training Centre |
0 |
11 |
10 |
11 |
Westgate Industrial Training Centre |
38 |
55 |
33 |
30 |
Sub-Total |
38 |
66 |
43 |
41 |
PRIVATE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES AND COLLEGES (**) |
8919 |
10314 |
10659 |
14686 |
|
|
|
|
|
GRAND-TOTAL |
14059 |
18020 |
18744 |
24497 |
(*) HIT= Harare Institute of Technology is now a state university
(**) The number of graduates in this two includes graduates of technical courses in secondary schools that offer vocational courses
UNIVERSITY GRADUATES 2003 AND 2004
UNIVERSITIES |
2003 |
2004 |
AFRICA UNIVERSITY |
180 |
208 |
BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION |
104 |
28 |
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY |
37 |
37 |
CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY |
392 |
229 |
MASVINGO STATE UNIVERSITY |
166 |
198 |
MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY |
450 |
1628 |
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY |
563 |
673 |
WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY IN AFRICA |
0 |
74 |
SOLUSI UNIVERSITY |
332 |
332 |
UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE |
2945 |
2746 |
ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY |
1144 |
1180 |
HARARE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY |
Enrolled first intake in 2005 |
|
LUPANE STATE UNIVERSITY |
Enrolled first intake in 2005 |
|
TOTAL |
6313 |
7333 |
Private universities are Africa University, Solusi University and Women's University in Africa and Catholic University. The rest are state universities
Source: Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe
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