GRADE Seven pupils will from next year be examined in six final subjects as part of an education curriculum review being implemented by Government to mould a generation equipped with modern societal skills.

An additional examinable Physical Education and Arts subject, which comprises visual and performing arts, physical education, mass displays and sport has been introduced.

While all other papers will have multiple choice (Paper 1) and structured questions (Paper 2), the Physical Education and Arts examination will only constitute a multiple choice section.

General Paper will now be known as Social Sciences and comprises Family, Religious and Moral Education (FAREME), Heritage, Social Studies, Guidance and Counselling.

The English and Indigenous Languages will have a summary component added while the Agriculture syllabus will include Science, Information Communication Technology (ICT).
The Mathematics syllabus remains unchanged.

The new education structure will see the highest pass at Grade 7 being pegged at six units.

Circulars have already been sent by the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) to various primary schools countrywide notifying them of the new changes.

ZIMSEC board chairperson Professor Eddie Mwenje said since Physical Education and Arts was already being taught and examined at secondary schools, it was time for it to be examined at primary school level.

“Physical Education and Arts has a component of sport, visual arts and music and some universities offer sport, for example, as a stand-alone degree,” he said.

“There are degrees in music or visual arts and it is proper for the subject to be introduced at primary level as soon as possible and aligned to what is being taught at secondary schools.”-State media