Government is disappointed with the extremely low reading levels in early learners with under 50 percent of children between grades 1 and 4 in public schools not being able to read.
Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Childhood Education Minister John Phiri disclosed that the Read To Succeed baseline study revealed that 89 percent of grade 2 learners and 80 percent of grade 3 learners cannot read.
Dr. Phiri said despite the disheartening statistics, government remains committed to improving the education system in the country through its comprehensive strategies and policies.
Speaking when he launched the “reading tools in a box initiative” in Lusaka yesterday, Dr. Phiri appealed to the cooperate world to come on board in supporting the education sector adding that government alone cannot implement all the strategies.
He said the country risks failing to attain the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number two of achieving universal primary education before 2015 if certain sectors of society such as children with special educational needs were not catered for.
And United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Zambia Acting Mission Director Mikaela Meredith commended government for the strides made in improving learning abilities in primary schools.
The reading tool in the box initiative is supported by the USAID, Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO), First Quantum Minerals (FQM) Investrust bank PLC and Maiden publishing House.
The initiative is aimed at improving the reading standards for early education learners for improved education.
How can government be disappointed with the reading culture when they themselves dont even read and hate education??…go to nkwazi house at state house and check the reading culture there
So to you a 4 year old child was born during PF’s reign? Not only can you not read, analyze and understand, but you can not count as well! What a shame!
For once Dora Siliya has said something sensible. Lets not blame government but the parents themselves. When you send a child to school, there’s just so much that the teachers can do, as parents we, too have a mandate to encourage our children at home and help them read but challenges also come in when parents cannot read.
Government is trying under the circumstances though certain places still are far behind in education infrastructure i agree. Also the same places, you will not send teachers who will concentrate on their work due to no houses, poor sanitation and many other challenges, the appeal once again is to look at these remote towns and render a face lift before you can expect anything tangible.
I don’t get this, Honarable Sakeni does not have a single book in the office according to all pictures posted of him and we should question the reading levels of grade two’s.
Its real funny. hahahahaha
But, a minister’s office is not supposed to be a library. There is not much to read about in his ministerial function. Only Lawyers should be surrounded by law books in their offices because theirs is to Quote Chaps and authorities etc, which things they cannot do from memory. As for the bad reading culture, parents have a very big role to play.
Talking of grade 1 and 4 yet there are some pupils who write Grade 12 without even knowing how to pronounce a e i o u
That is why learning has to start at grassroots level.. Good observation by government, let us strive hard as a nation for development in all sectors, we are Zambians and not PF, UPND or any other political party.. So we need to encourage the government when ever there is developmental efforts taking shape, this is for the benefit of all Zambians and not a political party..
That is not a classroom but a classopen.
Govt needs to work with individuals supporting early childhood education in the country not snubbing them.
Dora Siliya…..
“Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Childhood Education Minister John Phiri”
DON’T waste time, give me that position I will make you see what early childhood education means and what can be done even in Zambia, John Phiri is waste of time and money. DON’T worry I have a BA in early childhood education and a lot can be done resources are their. I feel bad over this really because it is so simple to educate children. Zambia awe mwe Maya chabe
Visit Maiden publishing house and buy local language readers for grades 1-4