The recently re-introduced Continuous Assessment Learning Activities (CALA) sounds like a noble idea in as far as formative assessment of school learners is concerned though the reservations by a section of stakeholders in the education sector would raise eyebrows on its intended success.
The statement issued by Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary education Edgar Moyo that ‘The most vocal are non-progressive, but the progressive ones are quiet. They must reduce their appetite of postponing this and postponing that’ could prove to be an underestimation of the critical role those stakeholders who were suggesting the postponement in implementing the programme.
The success of education in any given society must be hinged on the various players and thus not taking consideration of their views or opinions on particular issues need to be seriously taken into account.
Teachers play an equally important role in the implementation of the curriculum, hence their contribution to success should be taken note of. The fact that they are already demotivated with earning a decent salary being a bone of contention between the employer and employee with no lasting solution being muted.
Government should always weigh options on how to go about certain programmes in the wake of the floppy implementation of the revised curriculum which left so many citizens wandering as to what former education minister Lazarus Dokora was up to when the programme he started saw the plundering of US$ 4 million which arguably went down the drain.
Learning from that ‘mistake’ would have been a better option to Moyo instead of imposing the programme on educators when he is well aware that morale is at its lowest level among the workforce whose dignity is now a thing of the past.
The new dispensation should have learnt from the mistake Dokora made then correct such instead of repeating the same undoing which sooner or later will cost the nation’s once thriving and highly-ranked literacy level.
Consider teachers integral part of curriculum implementation and avoid taking them for slaves who would just listen from their master when the master does not.
What would be of the rural learners under such scenarios?
The research-based CALA would need commitment of the teacher on the ground but with the situation currently obtaining in most educational institutions, a dark cloud hangs over the success on whether they will benefit or not.
Thus considering the input of all concerned stakeholders is the key driver of development.
