CLAIM: Learners should write a maximum of eight subjects at O-level and a maximum of four A-level subjects, nothing more than four.
SOURCE: Taungana Ndoro in the Sunday News
VERDICT: Inconclusive
Zimbabwe’s education system has undergone a shift. The curriculum, once allowing a limitless number of O and A Level subjects, now mandates a limit: eight at O level and 4 at A level – or so the Director of Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Taungana Ndoro, claims.
The Sunday News recently carried a story headlined, ‘Government caps O and A-level exam subjects’. In the story, Ndoro is quoted as saying the new curriculum is strict on the number of subjects that learners can sit for at both O and A-level.
‘We have five compulsory learning areas or subjects at O-level, one can then take three elective subjects to make them eight. That makes a normal O-level candidate, who can progress to A-level and university. It is the same with A-level, a minimum of three and a maximum of four subjects,’ the newspaper quoted him as saying.
Zimbabwe has developed a new heritage-based education curriculum, which was approved and adopted by Cabinet in February 2024 with its implementation set to begin on May 7 when schools open for the second term.
However, while the Director says maximum, Circular No 4 of 2024 and the post cabinet briefing of 27 February on the curriculum, say the opposite.
Under the section on Lower Secondary Schools, the circular notes:
‘In Forms 1 to 4, all pupils study the following five (5) core and compulsory learning areas:
1) Mathematics
i) English Language
ili) Indigenous Language & Literature
iv) Combined Science
V) Heritage Studies
In addition, pupils also study at least three (3) necessary electives …’
The post-cabinet briefing of 27 February 2024 also states that, ‘Learners at secondary school level will study at least three electives from the following categories: the sciences; languages; humanities; commercials; technical and vocational; and physical education and arts’.
The Cambridge definition defines ‘at least’ as ‘as much as, or more than, a number or amount’. The Oxford dictionary says ‘not less than’. The Collins dictionary expands the definition noting that ‘at least’ is used ‘to say that a number or amount is the smallest that is possible or likely and that the actual number or amount may be greater’.
With this definition, the circular and post cabinet briefing can be read to mean that in addition to the 5 core and compulsory learning areas, pupils also study ‘not less than’ 3 necessary electives – leaving the maximum uncapped.
In relation to A level subjects, the circular is silent on the maximum, only stating that, ‘The curriculum promotes five pathways which are Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Visual and Performing Arts; Technical and Vocational Education and Training; Humanities; and Commercials.’
Conclusion
Zimbabwe has, indeed, announced a shift from CALA to a heritage based education curriculum set to run from 2024 to 2030. However, the claim by Taungana Ndoro as quoted in the media that, ‘Learners should write a maximum of eight subjects at O-level and a maximum of four A-level subjects, nothing more than four’ has been rated as inconclusive. Cabinet briefings and an education circular refer to ‘at least’ 3 elective subjects over and above the 5 compulsory core subjects for A level and is silent on numbers for A level. This would mean that there is no cap on the number of subjects but rather a minimum set at O level. It is unclear at this point whether Ndoro is correct in his announcement and the official communication a case of English gone wrong in the use of ‘at least’ or if Ndoro is the one who misinterpreted the meaning of ‘at least’ to mean maximum rather than minimum. At the moment, government communication is unclear on whether 8 subjects at O level are the minimum or maximum.
