PRIMARY CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED BY A TEAM THROUGH PERSONAL INTERVIEWS AND REVIEW OF CONTRACTOR PROGRESS REPORTS AND USAID PROJECT FILES. PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED IN THE PREVIOUS EVALUATION HAVE BEEN LARGELY OVERCOME. THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM UNIT (PCU) HAS BEEN FORMALLY INCLUDED IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION; MANY OF THE PCU STAFF NOW HOLD OFFICIALLY GAZETTED POFITIONS AND THE AGREED UPON 9 NEW POSITIONS FOR 1980 WILL BE GAZETTED IN APRIL 1980. CONTRACTOR STAFF HAS BEEN INCREASED AND ALL ARE IN PLACE. ON-THE-JOB TRAINING OF SWAZI CURRICULUM WRITERS HAS BEEN FORMALIZED AND INITIATED; AND THE FIRST SET OF NATIONWIDE PRIMARY CURRICULUM MATERIALS WAS DISTRIBUTED IN JANUARY 1980. HOWEVER, SEVERAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WHICH, IF LEFT UNATTENDED, WILL THWART THE ATTAINMENT OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES. RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PCU AND THE NATION"S TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS HAVE NOT BEEN FORMALLY ESTABLISHED. FOR LACK OF ADEQUATE ASSISTANCE FROM THE MOE,THE PCU HAS BEEN FORCED TO TAKE ON ROLES BEYOND ITS INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND MANDATE AS A PILOT INSTITUTION;THIS DIVERTS SCARCE PCU MANAGEMENT TIME FROM PRIORITY TASKS. AND LASTLY, ESSENTIAL INSTITUTIONAL LINKAGES ARE UNCLEAR IF NOT UNFORMED. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED. 1)A CHIEF INSPECTOR FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHOULD BE APPOINTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 2)FORMAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PCU AND THE NATION"S TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PRE AND IN-SERVICE INSTRUCTION OF TEACHERS IN THE USE OF NEW CURRICULA SHOULD BE DETAILED. 3)THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS SHOULD BE ASSIGNED, AND STEPS TAKEN TO ASSURE SYSTEMATIC, PERIODIC TESTING OF MATERIALS ON A NATIONAL SCALE. 4.ACCESS TO ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION FOR PCU PROFESSIONAL STAFF SHOULD BE IMPROVED. 5.PRACTICAL ARTS COURSE OBJECTIVES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND ENTIRE PRODUCTION SCHEDULE REVIEWED. 6.FORMAL RELATIONS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WITH THE UNIV COLLEGE OF SWAZILAND.