Minister of Psychomotor, Josiah Hungwe
WITH the ongoing curriculum review by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education seeking to make education in the country more inclusive by introducing the skills and vocational components to the syllabus, the continued existence of the Psychomotor Ministry has come under question. While the purpose and necessity of the Psychomotor Ministry has for long been in doubt, further questions have arisen that if a new curriculum by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education doing what Josiah Hungwe’s ministry is supposedly there to do, why the duplication?
The Psychomotor Ministry was introduced last year when ZANU-PF romped into power following its July 2013 defeat of the Movement for Democratic Change and the dissolution of the government of national unity. At the time the ministry was announced questions abound firstly as to the scope of its portfolio; and then also as to whether or not it was necessary.
Many speculated, at the time, that the ministry had been superfluously and unnecessarily set up as a way to just accommodate Josiah Hungwe, a long time ZANU-PF cadre, for political expediency rather than necessity. The fact that 18 months later the ministry still seems to be floundering as it struggles to locate its niche in the grand scheme of education in the country, has not helped matters. Neither has the reality that there are no funds to adequately resource it.
The Education Ministry’s thrust towards the technicalisation and vocalisation of its own syllabi appears to put paid to the relevance of a stand alone Psychomotor Ministry. At their inaugural congress in December last year, the Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (RTUZ) called for the collapse of the Psychomotor Ministry arguing that it duplicated the Education Ministry.
“It was resolved that the process (of curriculum review) sees to it that the Psychomotor skills Ministry be collapsed and incorporated into the Ministry of primary and Secondary Education to avoid duplication of roles,” read a part of the RTUZ resolutions.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education public relations officer, Patrick Zumbo, however, downplayed the possible duplication of duties by the two ministries. “The Psychomotor Ministry will be instrumental in the implementation of the new curriculum alongside our ministry,” Zumbo said, insisting both could continue co-existing.
While complementarity and joint efforts are ordinarily commendable, the question begging answers is whether the cash strapped Zimbabwe can afford, even in the very remotest of sense, to pay double for the same task. Although the Zimbabwe Teachers Association chief executive officer, Sifiso Ndlovu, agreed with Zumbo that implementation of the new curriculum could find expression in both ministries he, however, told the Financial Gazette that once the new curriculum has been concluded, it would be up to the government to re-organise itself.
“That is a political decision. It is not our place to say what should happen which ministry should be there or not, but certainly government will have to re-organise itself,” Ndlovu said.
Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, Lazarus Dokora, could not be reached for comment as his phone kept ringing without being answered. Hungwe could also not be reached by the time of going to press. Meanwhile, the curriculum review process is progressing full steam ahead, according to Zumbo. So far consultations with schools and specialists have been concluded and the ministry is now embarking on breakfast meetings with other crucial stakeholders across the provinces.
“We are at an advanced stage and we are pleased with the progress made. Various feedback is coming in and we expect to be done with the consultations soon,” Zumbo said, adding that by end of February a comprehensive document on the consultations would be compiled and shared with the public.
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