Zimbabwe Form 1-4 (O-Level) Ndebele

This course covers the Ndebele language for students in Forms 1-4, focusing on developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, including visual, manual, and tactile communication to accommodate diverse learning needs. The curriculum integrates cultural and heritage studies, promoting an understanding of Zimbabwean culture and values. It also emphasizes practical application, including creative writing and the use of ICT.

Aims

The course aims to:

• Develop comprehensive language skills, including visual, tactile, manual, and non-verbal communication.
• Foster a love, respect, and appreciation for the Ndebele language and its cultural significance.
• Enable accurate, appropriate, and effective language use in various communication settings.
• Cultivate a lifelong reading habit, encompassing diverse texts in Ndebele.
• Develop an understanding of social, cultural, political, technological, and economic norms and values in Zimbabwe.
• Enhance composition writing skills.
• Promote an appreciation of the aesthetic qualities of language.
• Develop the ability to generate wealth in an indigenized economy.
• Encourage acceptance of diverse indigenous cultures, norms, and values.
• Develop an appreciation of national heritage and culture.
• Equip learners with skills for effective ICT use.

Syllabus Objectives

By the end of Form 4, learners should be able to:

• Plan, organize, and write various compositions, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of diverse topics.
• Construct, spell, and punctuate words, phrases, and sentences accurately.
• Write using appropriate style and register for different contexts.
• Locate details and answer comprehension questions based on given texts.
• Place events in chronological order.
• Deduce the meaning of words, phrases, and figurative expressions.
• Summarize texts or parts of texts effectively.
• Identify and use language structures correctly.
• Explain the construction of grammatical structures.
• Identify, interpret, and use figurative language.
• Describe heritage and cultural aspects within texts.
• Use ICT appropriately.
• Earn a living through creative works.

Topics Covered

The syllabus covers the following main topics:

• Composition
• Language Usage and Registers
• Comprehension and Summary
• Language Structure

Assessment

Assessment is divided into continuous assessment (30%) and summative assessment (70%). Continuous assessment includes practical assignments, theory tests, and creative projects. Summative assessment consists of two written papers:

• Paper 1 (40%): Composition, Comprehension, and Summary.
• Paper 2 (30%): Language Usage, Registers, and Language Structure.

A learner profile will be compiled by teachers to track soft skills and other aspects not covered in the formal assessments. This profile provides a holistic view of the learner's competency but does not contribute to the final grade.