“Education Standards In Zambia Leaves Much To Be Desired”

Education may be understood as a system of formal teaching and learning as conducted through schools and other institutions. Levels of education in modern societies can go from preschools to colleges and universities.
Education is considered to be on the spotlight in every region in every continent but one would wonder when accessions are made against the Zambian government that they say one thing and in action does the other.
“The more you think you know, is the more you discover that you do not know.” Philosopher Socrates. On this principle many have endeavored to keep learn without stoppage.
It’s a pit to note how the people of Zambia determine to learn at all costs parents both rich and poor go to extremes to see their children attain the much needed education. I have seen people sell their most treasured possessions and I have seen certain people go into terrible activities to have their children get educated. But when all is said and done and these children have gone into the institutions then comes in the government to play its role.
Barely two weeks have passed since I witnessed a protest by the Mansa trades students who were expressing their grievance over the electricity status. I managed to talk to a leader in the institution who informed me how they have been not having electricity for years now and if they do one will need to light a candle to study even with bulbs on, the current is very poor. And how does one expect good performance from such a school where preparing for practical exams is impossible and studying is done in candle light.
While in Kitwe I noted how the city square is used constantly for every commemoration that is taking place. Everyone would agree with me that almost everyday today has its own event to be celebrated. Today it would be world AIDS Day tomorrow world Water Day another day world Secretary Day, world Forest day and many more. What buffers me is all these days are commemorated at the city square in Kitwe where there is a Public Library where people make payment to study every single day. And during these events megaphones are used the bands perform and many other activities and Ministers and many other government officials are always present without concern on the effects all these disturbances are having on those that are studying in the public Library.
Look at how many times the government forces institutions to close indefinitely, one would wonder if it’s the only resolution available for school grievances. And the sad thing is these closures are done at the cost of quality education and periods of course completion (People taking extra months others even extra years) due to disturbances that results in indefinite closures.
I do not want to talk about the quality of education being offered by institutions such as the Zambian Open University and many other Distance educations. I do not want to talk about the Exploitation to the general public by the institutions being advertised in the public media too.
What really is the Government doing about this kind of education conditions in Zambia?

By Heli Kaputo (Right Decisions Incorporated –CEO)

Posted by Editor on March 27, 2012. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

20 Responses to “Education Standards In Zambia Leaves Much To Be Desired”

Peter Bungane

March 27, 2012 at 5:18 pm

The Education Sector has been disturbed by political machinations of better bursaries when the money wasn’t even budgeted for, and the situation has been dealt a blow with a lack of re-investment by most management boards countrywide.
The whole purpose of education is to create innovation amongst the student body and in order to do that a lot of time and money is needed.
We need to urge our government to look for partnerships with countries that have heavily invested in their educational systems.
chanda mwamba

March 27, 2012 at 5:57 pm

Misplacement of priorities period.
GUN

March 27, 2012 at 6:24 pm

Check African universities rankings on google and you will feel sorry for UNZA worse CBU,all because of lack of proper infrustructure and poor working conditions for our dear teachers,shame!
GUN

March 27, 2012 at 6:56 pm

Developing stories are interesting in Mongu. Njoko aipanga lilata Mulozi wa nahana,UN imwanzila.
Joy

March 27, 2012 at 8:16 pm

Displacd prioritiz
osmuka

March 27, 2012 at 8:39 pm

It is nosensical to shift the blam of government only. From a parent to teachers to the minister in the education blame must go. In the first place many Zambians lack patriotism. Money aside because it will never be enough .Teachers ,not a small number of them have no heart for this nation. Some are lazy and unethical.Why should a pupil go upto grade 8 without the ability to read and write? Especially in government schools. Why on earth can a learner be given even unneccessary subjects? What do you gain by giving a learner eight subjects ? Overhaul change in education is needed.What shocks me is that we have very highly educated people but they too, keep sleeping(ukuzinkimana )while things deteriote. Let me ask these questions. How much is collected from government schools every year? How’s this money used? Under normal circumstance with accounatability and transparance each of these can even be self sustained. All teachers designeted to these schools can be paid from the same money. But we are in a country where her citizens are highly irresponsible . How do private schools sustain themselves? Some charge the same or less than what the government charge. ZAMBIANS YOU ARE YOUR OWN PROBLEM THOUGH VERY GOOD AT TALKING.
Chintontobe

March 27, 2012 at 10:28 pm

Its in a Kolwestan republic what do you expect?To them,education is secondary.Looting is the order of the day
Joewell

March 27, 2012 at 10:30 pm

Is he alive?
Fault Finder

March 28, 2012 at 12:58 am

Kitwe Library must be moved to another place where it’s less noisy.
African God

March 28, 2012 at 8:02 am

@ chintobetobe, and you are the chief kolwe in your kolwetan fantasy world…your mama that shaved monkey is the queen Macac!!
GUN

March 28, 2012 at 8:18 am

I still insist the govt is not doing enough,what do you expect from a school with classes of over 71 pupils with less than 20 desks,a falling board and 6 text books with 31 pages outof 300 in ie science and a teacher who is paid a k200 000 housing alowance? I feel sorry!
Kabs int'nl

March 28, 2012 at 8:29 am

How i wished auditors could go round schools, you will be suprised to see how the so called heads misuse money. Schools can be improved with user fees that are collected but most heads are too greedy.
kanda in Kitwe

March 28, 2012 at 9:04 am

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH KABS INTERNATIONAL SENTIMENTS, PLEASE LETS HAVE ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS AUDITED ESPECIALLY HERE IN KITWE STARTING WITH ALL SCHOOLS LIKE KITWE BOYS, HELEN, CHAMBOLI, WUSAKILE, NDEKE, MALELA ETC YOU WILL BE SHOCKED TO DISCOVER THAT MOST OF THESE HEAD TEACHERS WILL GO TO KAMFINSA PRISON. EVEN THE DEBS IS AWARE BUT THEY EAT TOGETHER.

PLEASE PLEASE CAN SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING NOW?
munro

March 28, 2012 at 10:04 am

So we all haven’t seen anything wrong with the headline? Is it correct English to say Standards… then say leaves.. isn’t it Standards… Leave? And this headline is talking about education standard, how ironic!
Marie-Anne

March 28, 2012 at 10:09 am

COPPERBELT HAS PLENTY SCHOOLS, YET THE PIPO ARE NOT EDUCATED. WHY? CUT OFF POINTS ARE THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THEY HAVE FAILED TO EXCEL. THE MINES ARE STILL IN FOREIGN HANDS. THE INFRASTRUCTURE LEFT BEHIND BY THE BRITONS HAS DETERIORATED. PIPED RUNNING WATER IS A LUXURY. HEALTH IS A DISASTER. KOLWESTAN IS A FAILED STATE.
Watchman over Watchdog-Galileo Galilei is back!

March 28, 2012 at 11:09 am

Munroe, nice one!
Gifted

March 28, 2012 at 4:52 pm

Blaming de government z neva de solution. Bt wat r ur recommendations brothers?
chitimukulu

March 28, 2012 at 6:21 pm

@Osmuka and Marie-Annie Sharp you guys in long time I have seen an intelligent contribution on this blog! Thanks you Guys.
ANALYST

March 28, 2012 at 8:07 pm

I did journalism in Zambia and when i left the country my credits could not transfer
scott roberts

March 29, 2012 at 3:12 am

“Baffles” moron not “Buffers”!