Zimbabwe Form 4 Curriculum - Commerce (Elective)

This information is based on the Zimbabwe Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Commerce Syllabus (Forms 1-4) for the 2015-2022 curriculum framework, revised in 2015.

Preamble:

The Commerce syllabus aims to prepare learners for life and potential careers in business by providing knowledge, skills, and an understanding of the commercial world within a Zimbabwean context. It emphasizes learner-centered approaches and the development of self-reliance, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Aims:

The syllabus aims to help learners:

• Appreciate the commercial environment.
• Understand commercial language, concepts, and decision-making.
• Grasp the impact of information technology.
• Understand innovation and change in commerce.
• Prepare for a globalized and competitive economy.
• Develop financial literacy and business management skills.
• Participate in voluntary service and leadership.

Syllabus Objectives:

Upon completion, learners should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of commercial activities and institutions.
• Describe the commercial environment.
• Explain business terminology.
• Interpret graphs, charts, and tables.
• Analyze commercial situations.
• Present information graphically.
• Apply knowledge and skills to solve business problems.
• Make sound commercial judgments.
• Assess the impact of ICTs.
• Communicate commercial information effectively.
• Carry out a self-reliance project.

Topics Covered:

The syllabus covers the following key topics:

• Production: Stages, factors, ownership of means, forms, value addition, chain of distribution, business environment.
• Trade: Introduction, wholesale, retail, hire purchase, deferred payments, discounts, documents used in home trade, foreign trade, balance of payments.
• Consumer Protection: Reasons for, consumer rights and responsibilities, protection boards (CCZ, SAZ), methods of protection, government's role.
• Business Organizations: Importance, unincorporated and incorporated units, traders associations, multinational companies, public sector, SMEs, public sector reforms.
• Enterprise: Introduction, management functions, business plans, ethics, intellectual property.
• Finance and Banking: Personal finance, managing finances, taxation, banking system, financial institutions (commercial banks, etc.), Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, business calculations, business finance, stock exchange, trends in banking, international financial institutions.
• Insurance and Assurance: Nature and purpose, principles, documents used, procedures, types of policies (insurance and assurance), communal systems, ECGC, impact of ICT.
• Business Communication: Importance, telecommunications, service providers, postal services, effective communication, formal/informal communication, trends.
• Transport: Importance, modes, choice factors, documents used, port authorities, trends.
• Warehousing: Introduction, indigenous systems, functions and importance, types, location.
• Marketing: Concepts, types of markets, segmentation, approaches, marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion).

Assessment:

Learner performance is assessed through continuous (30%) and summative (70%) assessments. Continuous assessment includes theory tests, assignments, and practical projects. Summative assessment consists of two papers: Paper 1 (Multiple Choice - 20%) and Paper 2 (Structured questions and essays - 50%). A detailed specification grid outlines the weighting of different topics across the forms.