THE National Association of Primary School Heads (Naph) has proposed that Continuous Assessment Learning Activity (CALA) projects for Grade Six learners be suspended saying it is too much work for the pupils.
CALA was first implemented for the Grade Seven, Form Four and Form Six 2021 public examinations candidates though it is part of the 2015 adopted new curriculum. The implementation of CALA had to be set aside due to lack of resources until last year. Pupils under CALA work on projects which are then awarded marks and the CALA marks constitute 30 percent of the final exam mark.
Pupils through CALA projects are supposed to to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and proficiency of the given subject.
For Grade Seven candidates, CALA projects start during the Second Term in Grade Six and learners are expected to complete 30 components in the two years before they sit for the Grade Seven final examination.
Speaking at the Naph conference which started on Sunday in Victoria Falls, Naph president Mrs Cynthia Khumalo who is head for Chinotimba Primary School in Victoria Falls said CALA must be scrapped for Grade Six pupils.
“Continuous Assessment Learning Activity is an excellent way of assessing the learners but its administration needs fine tuning. The scenario where a 13-year-old produces 30 projects is on the higher side. At university only one project is produced and so we suggest that one component per subject is enough starting at Grade Seven level,” said Mrs Khumalo.
She said the payment of Grade 7 examination fees should not be treated as school fees where parents pay every term at Grade Six level.
She implored Zimsec to set aside a budget for administration of examinations.
“At Ordinary and Advanced Level they pay only once. Can the same be done to the Grade Seven as administration of the fund is difficult at school as we are short-staffed,” added Mrs Khumalo..
She urged teachers to invest in research to come out with an acceptable model.
Mrs Khumalo encouraged schools to embark on income generating projects to be self-sustaining and emulate those that have joined the Schools for Economic Development (Schools4ED).
She said schools should desist from age cheating which is rampant especially in sporting activities, saying the association will soon resort to naming and shaming schools and individuals that are corrupt.
Mrs Khumalo said schools face various challenges such as delays in payment of Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) money, delays in recruitment of teachers and failure to pay a living wage to teachers.
Various stakeholders dealing in different kinds of services are exhibiting on the sidelines of the conference which started on Sunday and ends tomorrow .
More than 1 200 school heads are attending the conference. – The Chronicle
