Life Skills Orientation Programme (Zimbabwe O-Level)

This programme is an out-of-school curriculum for Grade 7, Form 4 (O-Level), and Form 6, designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical life. It fosters connections between schools, communities, and industries, providing learners with opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings. The programme emphasizes character development, promoting Unhu/Ubuntu/Vumunhu through virtues like punctuality, commitment, honesty, empathy, resilience, and perseverance.

Aims:

• Develop learners' physical, intellectual, personal, emotional, and social abilities.
• Cultivate national consciousness, identity, and patriotism.
• Promote personal development based on Unhu/Ubuntu/Vumunhu.
• Equip learners to address challenges and contribute responsibly to society.
• Empower learners to make informed decisions about their health, environment, academics, and future careers.
• Guide learners in exercising their rights and responsibilities while respecting others.

Objectives:

Upon completion of each level, learners should be able to:

• Demonstrate Unhu/Ubuntu/Vumunhu in social interactions.
• Apply knowledge and skills to manage their environment.
• Explore the world of work and identify suitable career paths.
• Develop critical thinking, initiative, interpersonal skills, and problem-solving abilities.
• Understand children's rights and responsibilities.
• Adopt healthy habits for responsible living.
• Exhibit patriotism, volunteerism, and appreciation for human diversity.

Programme Structure:

The programme follows a spiral approach, starting with the learner's immediate environment, expanding to the wider community, and finally encompassing the world. Participatory methods are employed, including:

• Exposure to enterprise environments
• Educational tours to historical and heritage sites
• Volunteerism
• Outbound programming
• Research
• E-learning
• Role-playing
• Dramatization
• Group work
• Simulations
• Community engagement activities (hospitals, Red Cross, uniformed services, parliament)
• Under study programs

Time Allocation:

• Grade 7: 6 weeks (Mid-October to early December)
• Form 4: 2 months (End of November to end of January)
• Form 6: 2 months (End of November to end of January)

Each level includes at least one or two educational tours. Learners also participate in sport festivals at various levels during holidays.

Syllabus Topics:

The syllabus covers seven core topics across all levels, with increasing complexity and depth:

1. Identity and Patriotism: Covers self-awareness, family and community beliefs, national identity, and global awareness. 2. Leadership: Explores leadership qualities, roles, responsibilities, challenges, and conflict management. 3. Health: Focuses on healthy living, first aid, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and other common illnesses. 4. Environmental Issues: Examines the natural environment, sustainable resource utilization, indigenous knowledge systems, and disaster management. 5. Rights and Responsibilities: Covers indigenous systems of human rights, children's rights, constitutional rights, and responsibilities. 6. Enterprise and Volunteerism: Explores work values, volunteerism opportunities, social services, and business opportunities. 7. Maintenance Skills: Develops skills for maintaining the home, community, and nation.

Assessment:

The programme is assessed through continuous assessment and profiling, focusing on the development of Unhu/Ubuntu/Vumunhu skills, relating skills, caring skills, giving skills, thinking skills, working skills, and managing skills. Learners maintain records of their work as evidence of skill acquisition. The assessment culminates in an exit profile.