BY NDUMISO TSHUMA
The Bulawayo province recently hosted its annual Provincial Annual Science and Sports Festival (PASSAF) aimed at promoting innovation, critical thinking, and creativity among children.
The event brought together five districts from the province, with four contestants selected from each district to participate in various activities: two from the primary infant level and two from the high school level.
The districts included Bulawayo Central, Khami District, Imbizo District, Mzilikazi District, and Reigate District.
The festival, hosted at St. Bernard’s High School in Khami district, provided a platform for children as young as infants to showcase their talents in various fields, including visual arts, agriculture, modelling, and group dances.
According to Miriam Siziba, from the Technical Department of the Bulawayo Province educational services, the event aimed to identify and nurture talent from an early age, from infant level to high school level, by providing them a platform to express their skills.
“We want to give children a platform to showcase what they are good at. Teachers should continue tracking students from a young age, as young as infant level, to identify those with exceptional talents. Consider the child who was dancing—where will he or she be in 10 years? Or the one playing marimba—where will they be in the future and how far will they have gone with their talent,” said Siziba.
Lawrence Mkwala, who was representing the Provincial Education Director of Bulawayo, emphasised the importance of developing 21st-century skills, life skills, and skills related to diversity, which are crucial for building a strong nation.
Mkwala stressed that PASSAF should aim to enhance students’ advanced talents from the infant level with these essential skills.
“PASSAF should also aim to boost students who have advanced talents from infancy with 21st-century skills, life skills, and skills related to diversity. The foundation of a strong nation will be enhanced by diverse and effective education systems. Children, even infants, should continue showcasing their talents at PASSAF and even at the national level. The current generation of our children should not let that honor slip away, as Bulawayo is considered the hub of festivals. Children should continue to train hard for sports and sciences, even at the national level. The team produced here will be represented at the national level, proving that we are the cultural capital of Bulawayo,” said Mkwala.
Sibusisiwe Nyathi from Ingubo Primary School said they have introduced a new arts curriculum, teaching infants as young as kindergarten level how to create artwork and innovate their minds. Nyathi highlighted an example of a grade two student who created a paper mache fruit bowl using everyday school objects like paper and other materials.
“We introduced this syllabus this year, teaching infants from kindergarten level how to create innovative artwork. For example, we have a grade two student and others whom we have taught how to make art from everyday objects seen at home and used at school. One of the artworks a student made was a fruit bowl made of paper mache and other ingredients,” said Nyathi.
Nyathi said it is crucial to capture students at an early stage and encourage them to develop their strengths rather than letting their natural abilities fade away as they progress through education.
