Africa > Southern Africa > Zimbabwe > Zimbabwe Education Profile

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Education Profile

2015/01/25

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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