The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
“May it please you, Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Head of State and Government, Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and Grandmaster of the Zimbabwe order of merit, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to confer the order of the star of Zimbabwe silver on Mrs Joanna Girlie Moyo-Sibanda for her distinction in education development.”
These were the words of Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Amon Murwira while reading the citation to conferring Mrs Sibanda, one of the highest honours in the land.
The Order of the Star of Zimbabwe (silver) is conferred on persons who distinguish themselves in the areas of Academic and Research; Business and Economics; and Social Services. To many, this was a name they had heard for the first time, named in a category where they were well known academics inclusive of the late Professor Phineas Mogorosi Makhurane (founding Nust Vice-Chancellor) and Prof Ngwabi Mulunge Bhebhe (former Midlands State University Vice-Chancellor).
In her category all the recipients were doctorate holders with some also attaining Professorship. However, those that know the history of the development of the education sector in Zimbabwe know that despite her old age and largely reserved demeanour she stands tall among all these luminaries in education development.
She single-handedly moulded what is known today as Early Childhood Development in the country such that the current concept of ECD was not only her brainchild but she practically helped implement it as far back in 1961.
Back then it was not yet referred to as ECD however, she christened it the New Approach method. In the Old Approach the children were passive in their own learning and the teacher did most of the talking as the children sat silent. The children sat in rows. The furniture was too big and was suitable for children in the upper grades.
At the time, the walls were bare and had no charts. The children were taught using the drill method and were expected to cram facts without the opportunity to manipulate objects and discover on their own.
Manjengwa (1994) in describing the works of Mrs Sibanda says; “She is the pillar of ECD in Zimbabwe. She is an educationist who played a pivotal role in the development of Infant Education in Zimbabwe. She worked alongside Mr McDonald Partridge and Dr Joyce Childs in the implementation of the New Approach at Hope Fountain Mission.
The approach facilitated the establishment of the infant department and the training of specialist infant teachers using infant methods. The methods prevalent to date in the teaching and learning in the infant department are because of their influence.”
Manjengwa, who researched extensively on Mr Sibanda’s new approach to infant learning, reveals that before Mrs Sibanda’s influence there was no infant department as seen presently in schools.
Children learnt in composite classes. Grade One and Four were taught by the same teacher in the same classroom at the same time. They would sit facing the opposite direction. Grade Two and Five were also combined and taught in the same manner. Grade Three however, did not have a teacher, teachers rotated during their free periods to teach the class.
“In the old approach harsh discipline was used. At times the children were beaten up for getting sums and spellings wrong. In some instances the learner would have to stand for the rest of the lesson if they got a sum or spelling wrong. Children were also ridiculed for getting a sum wrong by instructing their classmates to boo them.
“Mrs Joanna Moyo-Sibanda was the first African teacher to experiment on infant methods, the new approach emphasised on the pedagogy of infant education. It also emphasised the need for the teacher to provide a conducive environment that promoted discovery learning, manipulation of concrete material, problem solving skills and critical thinking skills,” reads part of an outline illustrating the works of Mrs Sibanda.
In describing the new approach, Mrs Sibanda in 1967 is quoted as saying; “The new approach dissuaded teachers from viewing a child as a child to be taught but rather a child learning, finding out things through play and activity and expression.
“Teaching and learning had to be child-centred. The new approach required that children be active participants in their own learning, all the teacher had to do was to implement learning methods that catered for individual differences. The child was considered a unique individual therefore, the teacher was encouraged to consider the child’s developmental stage and provide learning that was at the child’s level.”
In this approach gifted learners were provided with more complex material and slow learners given work suitable to their level.
Mrs Sibanda became famous for the five steps of learning aids, which still apply to date in the education sector;
1. Get the actual object for your apparatus wherever possible.
2. The second most important aid is the picture.
3. If you cannot get the actual objects or pictures make a model.
4. If the first 3 are not possible drawings should serve the purpose.
5. Talking should be the last resort.
“Gone are the days when a good teacher was the one who talked the most,” said the revered educationist.
Among her many achievements she also developed the first play centre in the country that enrolled children between 5-6 years old and enacted the new approach to infant learning.
Her books have become the referral point for teaching and learning at the infant level.
Manjengwa (1994:57) in her conclusion states, “Who knows? One day you will have the chance, as an ECD educator, to positively influence the quality of the life of the children you teach to stand on the shoulders of historical figures like Piaget, Joyce Child, Joanna Moyo, Rousseau and many other, that came before you.”
In an interview Mrs Sibanda could not hide her excitement and said it was wrong to suggest that people do not know her
“I am so excited, really excited, people really do know me, just go to the UCCSA church (referring to the church she attends), Mzilikazi branch or any branch in the city, ask them who JG is, ask any infant teacher who JG is, I am so excited.
“I have waited 57 years to get this recognition and what excites me is that I am being honoured while I am still alive.
What excites me further is that the President himself is conferring this award to me personally which shows me that the contributions I made to the education sector are known by all,” she said with excitement.
