Implementing Educational Policies in Zimbabwe

Implementing Educational Policies in Zimbabwe

Author: Obert E. Maravanyika

Publisher: Washington, D.C. : World Bank

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 52

ISBN-13:

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Zimbabwe has been independent only since 1980. It has, however, attempted to change significantly the inherited educational policies, which it considers to be inappropriate to the nation's adopted socialist ideology. This paper outlines and critically appraises Zimbabwe's educational policies and finds that post-independence educational policy formulation has been influenced not only by ideological goals of national policy, but equally strongly by the inherited colonial capitalist infrastructure. A thorough review of the main factors influencing policy formulation in the colonial period helps explain why the transformation in educational policies has been more quantitative than qualitative since 1980, the emphasis on socialist development notwithstanding. Additional factors which have hindered substantial qualitative change have been the short time period since independence and shortages of both human and material resources. A particular problem is the preference of students and parents for a traditional, academic education of the sort often denied Blacks under colonial rule over the new, more practical and vocational curriculum. In conclusion, the paper reviews the implications of the dichotomy between pre- and post-independence social, economic, political, and educational goals for the specific areas of private schools, teacher education, curricula, and examinations.


Education and Development in Zimbabwe

Education and Development in Zimbabwe

Author: Edward Shizha

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-01-01

Total Pages: 217

ISBN-13: 9460916066

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The book represents a contribution to policy formulation and design in an increasingly knowledge economy in Zimbabwe. It challenges scholars to think about the role of education, its funding and the egalitarian approach to widening access to education. The nexus between education, democracy and policy change is a complex one. The book provides an illuminating account of the constantly evolving notions of national identity, language and citizenship from the Zimbabwean experience. The book discusses educational successes and challenges by examining the ideological effects of social, political and economic considerations on Zimbabwe’s colonial and postcolonial education. Currently, literature on current educational challenges in Zimbabwe is lacking and there is very little published material on these ideological effects on educational development in Zimbabwe. This book is likely to be one of the first on the impact of social, political and economic meltdown on education. The book is targeted at local and international academics and scholars of history of education and comparative education, scholars of international education and development, undergraduate and graduate students, and professors who are interested in educational development in Africa, particularly Zimbabwe. Notwithstanding, the book is a valuable resource to policy makers, educational administrators and researchers and the wider community. Shizha and Kariwo’s book is an important and illuminating addition on the effects of social, political and economic trajectories on education and development in Zimbabwe. It critically analyses the crucial specifics of the Zimbabwean situation by providing an in depth discourse on education at this historical juncture. The book offers new insights that may be useful for an understanding of not only the Zimbabwean case, but also education in other African countries. Rosemary Gordon, Senior Lecturer in Educational Foundations, University of Zimbabwe Ranging in temporal scope from the colonial era and its elitist legacy through the golden era of populist, universal elementary education to the disarray of contemporary socioeconomic crisis; covering elementary through higher education and touching thematically on everything from the pernicious effects of social adjustment programmes through the local deprofessionalization of teaching, this text provides a comprehensive, wide ranging and yet carefully detailed account of education in Zimbabwe. This engagingly written portrayal will prove illuminating not only to readers interested in Zimbabwe’s education specifically but more widely to all who are interested in how the sociopolitical shapes education- how ideology, policy, international pressures, economic factors and shifts in values collectively forge the historical and contemporary character of a country’s education. Handel Kashope Wright, Professor of Education, University of British Columbia


Implementing Deeper Learning and 21st Century Education Reforms

Implementing Deeper Learning and 21st Century Education Reforms

Author: Fernando M. Reimers

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2020-11-04

Total Pages: 198

ISBN-13: 3030570398

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This open access book is a comparative analysis of recent large scale education reforms that broadened curriculum goals to better prepare students for the 21st century. The book examines what governments actually do when they broaden curriculum goals, with attention to the details of implementation. To this end, the book examines system level reforms in six countries at various levels of development. The study includes system level reforms in jurisdictions where students achieve high levels in international assessments of basic literacies, such as Singapore and Ontario, Canada, as well as in nations where students achieve much lower levels, such as Kenya, Mexico, Punjab-Pakistan and Zimbabwe. The chapters examine system-level reforms that focus on strengthening the capacity to teach the basics, as in Ontario and Pakistan, as well as reforms that aim at building the capacity to teach a much broader set of competencies and skills, such as Kenya, Mexico, Singapore and Zimbabwe. The volume includes systems at very different levels of spending per student and reforms at various points in the cycle of policy implementation, some just starting, some struggling to survive a governmental transition, and others that have been in place for an extended period of time. From the comparative study of these reforms, we aim to provide an understanding of how to build the capacity of education systems to teach 21st century skills at scale in diverse settings.


Implementing Educational Policies in Ethiopia

Implementing Educational Policies in Ethiopia

Author: Fassil R. Kiros

Publisher: Washington, D.C. : World Bank

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 138

ISBN-13:

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This paper describes in detail the historical roots of the modern Ethiopian educational system. Ethiopia began a program of modernization and development upon liberation in 1941. By 1961 the country's educational accomplishments were found to be quite low when compared with other African countries, most of whom were not yet or just barely independent themselves. Some gains were made in the education sector through the implementation of a series of five-year development plans. Since 1974, Ethiopia has been undergoing a process of revolutionary change, including a quantitative and qualitative expansion of education at all levels, including basic literacy. However, the education system has expanded faster than the rest of the economy, creating problems of educational quality, wastage and inefficiency, poor working conditions of teachers, educated unemployment, and the need for continuing reorganization. The report describes the role of education as envisioned in the Government's Ten Year Perspective Plan (1984-94) and argues that problems remain today not because education has been neglected, but because much greater emphasis has been placed on its expansion.


Implementing Educational Policies in Lesotho

Implementing Educational Policies in Lesotho

Author: T. Sohl Thelejani

Publisher: Washington, D.C. : World Bank

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 42

ISBN-13:

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When Lesotho became independent (1966), education was inadequate in scope, quantity and quality. After independence, the role of education was seen to be the production of two kinds of indigenous manpower -- administrators to run the civil service and scientists and technicians. With the help of outside experts, educational policies were developed and codified in a series of three Five-Year Development Plans. This paper reviews the progress of educational development according to the development plans and evaluates their implementation. Some programs have been successfully implemented, including those for book supply, classroom building, non-formal education, the establishment of educational associations, and the replacement of small church-run teacher training colleges by a national college. The country experienced a steady increase in the number of students and schools. However, the "push out" rate is so high that only 14 percent of primary school entrants continue on to secondary school. Other problems include non-attainment of the goal of universal primary education, an apparent decline in educational quality, teacher shortages, insufficient training in the English language, lack of employment opportunities even for graduates, and practical studies that are not relevant to rural economic activities.


Implementing Educational Policies in Swaziland

Implementing Educational Policies in Swaziland

Author: Cisco Magalula

Publisher: Washington, D.C. : World Bank

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 94

ISBN-13:

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At the time of independence from Britain in 1968, education in Swaziland was characterized by poor quality, uneven distribution of schools, high dropout and repeater rates, serious teacher shortages, and inappropriate and highly academic curricula. This paper describes the status of present-day education in Swaziland in terms of the effect of government policies on the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors. Because current trends in education are the cumulative result of policies followed since independence, the historical development of educational policy is traced in quinquennials that correspond to each of the four post-independence five-year National Development Plans. The policies of the first three five-year periods are followed by an appraisal of the achievements and failures of the period with regard to policy objectives and policy procedures. The final chapter on the Fourth Plan (1984-88) lists priority areas for continued improvement : a) improved teacher training; b) curriculum development; c) support to the sector from the Ministry of Education; and d) more systematic educational planning, monitoring and evaluation.


Restoring the Educational Dream. Rethinking Educational Transformation in Zimbabwe

Restoring the Educational Dream. Rethinking Educational Transformation in Zimbabwe

Author: Shizha, Edward

Publisher: Africa Institute of South Africa

Published: 2013-12-07

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13: 0798304073

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The role of education in human well being and social development cannot be overestimated. After a number of highly commendable policies on education in the first decade of independence, the education system in Zimbabwe has taken a tumble that needs both examining and rectifying. This volume analyses the challenges facing the education system in Zimbabwe and explores and scrutinises theoretical and practical possibilities for restoring the educational dream that was initiated at independence in 1980. The book is targeted at academics, scholars, college and university students, policy makers and other stakeholders and advocates a multi-pronged approach that must involve all stakeholders if educational retransformation, reconstruction and restoration are to be achieved. The authors provide a range of recommendations for a project that would restore the educational dream in Zimbabwe.


Implementing Educational Policies in Uganda

Implementing Educational Policies in Uganda

Author: Cooper F. Odaet

Publisher: Washington, D.C. : World Bank

Published: 1990

Total Pages: 46

ISBN-13:

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At the time of independence from Britain in 1962, education in Uganda was more advanced than in neighboring countries, although still unsatisfactory. This paper reviews the recommendations of commissions, educational reviews, and five-year plans for the development of educational policies since independence. There have been two main long-term government objectives -- primary school expansion toward the goal of universal primary education, and the provision of sufficient manpower of the quality needed to meet the skill requirements of the economy. The implementation of these goals was severely hampered by the events of the 1970s, which were a decade of "total national calamity" that affected all sectors of the economy, including the education system. The Recovery Program of 1982/84 was adopted to reconstruct and rehabilitate the educational infrastructure. The report reviews the present-day status of education in Uganda with regard to internal and external efficiency, equity, and non-quantitative criteria such as national policy and Ugandanization. It finds four remaining major problem areas : a) continued illiteracy; b) high dropout rates at almost all levels; c) unqualified teachers along with a shortage of qualified ones; and d) a widening gap between educational preparation and actual employment opportunities.