Arts Views with Thabani H Moyo
VISUAL and Performing Arts Teachers in Bulawayo are working on registering an Arts Association. Visual and Performing Arts Educators of Zimbabwe (V.A.P.A.E.Z) is the name of the proposed association. The Association comes after the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has formally adopted Visual and Performing Arts as a new learning area into the formal updated curriculum.
V.A.P.A.E.Z has broad objectives that speaks into the teaching and learning of Visual and Performing Arts in schools around Zimbabwe. The association will provide a forum for discussing issues of mutual interest among teachers of Visual and Performing arts both at Primary and Secondary level.
Visual and Performing Arts have been in the past given low status in the education system. Activities around these learning areas have been regarded as extra-curriculum activities. One of the task of the association will be to advocate for the incorporation of these learning areas into the school curriculums. Some school administrators still need to be educated on the importance and value of Arts Education.
While all learners at Primary schools are taking up Visual and Performing Arts the picture is different at secondary level. Subjects like Dance and Film are yet to be introduced in the school curriculums while Theatre Arts, Music and Visual Art still have low uptake. The association has an uphill task to make sure that the general public and stakeholders understand the importance of these learning areas.
The other area that the association will have look into is the engagement of professional artists in schools as resource persons. It has to be appreciated that not every artist can be a resource person. There are qualities, skills and knowledge that will qualify one as a resource person. The association will come in handy in making sure that there is proper accreditation for artists who work with schools. This the association will seek to achieve working with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
The other area of interest for the association will be to equip its members so that they are competent facilitators in their daily duties. The association will line-up workshops that are aimed at imparting attitudes, skills and knowledge to its membership.
Membership to the association is open to all Visual and Performing Arts educators in Zimbabwe. Retired Visual and Performing Arts teachers can be part of the association as associate members. Honorary membership will be extended to organisations and individual artists upon application and approval by the association executive.
The association is currently setting up Provincial structures. The Bulawayo Executive Committee currently comprises of Thabani H Moyo as Chairperson, Nkosana Mlibazi as Vice Chairperson, Mpofu Abigail N as Secretary, Sidambe Sarah S as Vice Secretary, Sibanda Clever M as Primary Schools representative, Sayers Bridget as Secondary Schools representative and Mupatsi Florence as Special Needs Schools representative.
