Implementation of Design and Technology Curriculum: the Case of Independent Secondary Schools in Bulawayo

Design and Technology is a newly introduced subject in independent secondary schools in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The educators are faced with a task of implementing the new curriculum using facilities that were originally meant for the traditional technical subjects that have been replaced by the new subject only in independent secondary schools. The teaching and learning of the subject faces various interpretations and challenges in its implementation. The research attempted to establish the perceptions and understanding of educators and learners regarding the implementation of Design and Technology curriculum in independent secondary schools. Four independent secondary schools were selected for this study. A literature review on Design and Technology was undertaken to provide an overview of what the aims of the subject were. Questionnaires, interviews and observations were used to collect data that provided answers to the questions raised in this study. The subject is well received and considered relevant by implementers and learners.