Harare - Zimbabwe says it will pay fees for all pupils at government schools who choose science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects this year.
In a recent statement the government said it had launched a multi-media programme to encourage students who took their “O” level examinations last year, and who achieved at least a “C” grade in maths, chemistry and biology to take these subjects for their higher, “A” level examinations.
“A” levels usually take two years.
The programme is aimed at triggering an increase in students who will enrol for science and maths at universities post-2018.
There are also cash incentives for schools promoting enrolment in these subjects.
There is solid evidence that the fastest growing and highest earning careers in future will be in STEM fields, the government said.
But, educators say only some public schools offer the separate science subjects required to do “A” levels.
Most rural schools - which make up the majority of schools in Zimbabwe - don’t offer the science courses needed to get into the “A” level classes.
Other schools which do have the necessary courses say they do not have laboratories needed for “A” level.
Zimbabwe has about 14 state and private universities.
But many educators say most of the courses offered do not lead to employment.
They also say the quality of many of the courses and teaching staff has declined over recent years.
Mary Ndlovu, Zimbabwe’s top educational analyst, said promoting science and maths is a positive move, but the government needs to work lower down the line, at “O” level. Also, the “C” grade needed to take advantage of the offer, is often not seen as “good enough” to qualify for A level study.
“There is also a problem finding science teachers,” Ndlovu said.
“Zimbabwe’s education system has seriously deteriorated from its quality of earlier years at every level, including teacher training.”
She said teaching staff were being cut at every level in education in Zimbabwe, which she said was in “serious” trouble.
Many believe, falsely, that Zimbabwe has more than 90% literacy, but experts point out that the figure quoted is actually about school enrolment in Grade 1 and the drop-out of pupils during the first four years of primary school is massive and growing.
Independent Foreign Service