A GROUND-BREAKING initiative aimed at assessing the developmental milestones of Early Childhood Development (ECD) learners is set to transform the education sector in Zimbabwe.
The Smart Tablet Early Learning Tool (STELA) application, an Android-based tool, enables teachers to track the cognitive, physical and socio-economic development of children in ECD B classes.
STELA was developed by ECD experts from the University of Zimbabwe with funding from the Roger Federer Foundation.
Speaking at a sensitisation workshop organised by Zinced, Child Protection Society representative Tinashe Madzitire said the application allowed for real-time data collection and analysis, providing valuable insights into school and individual performance, as well as district-wide progress.
“STELA is an application for smart tablet early learning assessment tool. This is an android application used by teachers to assess the developmental milestones for children in ECD B in particular.
“Currently we are only learning with ECD B but the hope is to expand in the next phase so the teachers use this to access the cognitive, physical and socio-economic development of children.
“So the tool replaces the paper-based checklist system that was used in schools. We are saying we want to go digital. We want to bridge the digital devide targeting the least resourced in the country especially in the rural areas.”
Madzitire said data was accessible to the Education ministry which has to put in writing its desire to adopt this tool for assessment of ECD learners across the country.
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Zimbabwe Network of Early Childhood Development Actors (Zinecda) director Macerline Kahlari said the initiative would cover gaps in early childhood development.
“We are advocating for the adoption of STELA because we had an early learning assessment which was in place but unfortunately this was a mechanism which was put in place by the ministry to assess Grade Two only which left out ECD pupils and there was nothing to assess the progress and milestones.
“We have seen that it is good to put STELA in place as it will cover the gap especially when it comes to looking at the milestones expected to be there to say they are ready to advance to another grade.
“This is a great initiative to see where they are lagging and managing what to be put in place to cover all the stars that are needed for ECD to have positive results.”
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education acting chairperson Sikayi Munhungehama said STELA offered a data-driven framework that could help to diagnose learning gaps, support teachers with actionable insights and ensure no child is left behind.
“Let us champion the integration of STELA into the national education policy. Let us advocate for the resources and institutional support needed to scale it nationwide.
“And let us remember that the future of Zimbabwe is already seated in our ECD classrooms — what we do today will determine how well they thrive tomorrow.
