lower grades has impressed Government has most learners have responded
positively. Here, Education Deputy Minister David Mabumba monitoring
the use of icibemba at Ray of Joy Primary School in Nchelenge
By Henry Kyambalesa
Introduction:
In 1917, a philosopher by the name Alfred North Whitehead warned about the ill-fated destiny of a society which does not make meaningful investments in its people’s education that is perhaps truer today than it was during his time:
“In the conditions of modern life, the rule is absolute … [a nation] which does not value [education] … is doomed.”
It should, therefore, be obvious that accessible and high-quality education can be said to be the most important investment a government can make. It is not possible for any society to succeed in the pursuit of other human endeavors without adequate pools of enlightened citizens.
In general, education is among societal members’ fundamental rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26(1):
“Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional edu-cation shall be made generally available, and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.”
There is clearly a need for the government to make a sustained effort to cater for the basic needs of the educational system by ensuring that schools and classrooms are adequately equipped for both teaching and learning; that every classroom has qualified, self-motivated and well-paid teachers or lecturers; and that institutions of learning have competent school administrators on competitive conditions of service and adequate office supplies and fixtures.
In the ensuing sections, I wish to comment on the government’s decision to impose the teaching of selected Zambian languages in schools from Grade 1 through Grade 4, and the creation of a Higher Education Authority.
Local Languages in Schools:
There are no tangible or conceivable benefits to the nation and/or to school-going children which are likely to accrue from the contemplated change in the language of instruction from English to a selected number of local languages for school children in Grade 1 through Grade 4.
Nationalism as an end in itself has become irrelevant in a globalizing national context. English, whether we like it or not, has become the ‘Lingua Franca’ in commerce and trade in the integrated global market for goods, services, labor, capital, and technology.
Any country that wants to compete on the global or world stage, therefore, would do well not to formally and unnecessarily subject its young citizens to a potpourri of tribal local languages.
There are many hitches associated with the contemplated change in the language of instruction in schools from English to a selected number of local languages for school children in Grade 1 through Grade 4.
- Our beloved country has become heterogeneous in terms of tribal identities due in part to inter-marriages. There are, for example, many husbands and wives who have settled in provinces which are not their provinces of origin. Imposition of a third tribal language on such parents’ school-going children would be contemptuous.
- foreigners in diplomatic missions and expatriates based in Zambia will have problems in finding nearby schools for their young children which will not require instruction in local languages.
- Zambian citizens relocating to English-speaking countries to study, to work in the country’s diplomatic missions, or for other reasons, will have to enroll their young children in elementary English classes in order for such children to catch up to the level of their classmates.
- The Zambian nation is composed of 73 distinct tribes, each one of which has a distinct language. To impose 7 local languages—that is, Bemba, Kaonde, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, and/or Tonga languages—on 66 of our country’s tribes and their languages would be synonymous to treating the citizens who belong to such tribes as second-class citizens.
UNIP and Dr. K. D. Kaunda kept the country united and stable for 27 consecutive years by avoiding such a controversial and divisive experiment!
And, fifthly, the proposed experiment will exacerbate the country’s deteriorating levels of literacy. By the way, a study conducted by the Southern African Consortium for Measuring Education Quality between 2007 and 2010 has placed Zambia second from the bottom out of the 15 countries in the Southern African region which were surveyed!
Higher Education Authority:
The creation of a new Higher Education Authority (HEA) to improve the quality of education and training, and to establish a national regulatory framework for education and training in the country, is, in principle, a good idea. Also, the contemplated establishment of a National Health Research Authority (NHRA) is an idea that should be supported by all well-meaning Zambians.
However, the government needs to seriously consider the prospect of creating a National Education and Training Authority (NETA)—an umbrella-kind-of authority that should be charged with the responsibility of monitoring, regulating, and bolstering the standard and quality of education and training in the country.
Such an Authority should be composed of three standing committees—that is: (a) a Standing Committee on Formal Education; (b) a Standing Committee on Tertiary Education; and (c) a Standing Committee on Health and Medical Training.
Finally, it is essential for the government to craft an educational and training regime that does not only equip the citizenry with the knowledge and skills needed in developing our country, but also one that is designed to equip each and every citizen with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the global marketplace of the 21st century.
This System is rotten..they dont care coz they have their kids in private good schools.They want to make sure KWA kids remain the dull most of all times.
Shame on u ba PF and your dead Sabwe 0 tactics
@ Kazembe wa Lunda: I support you fully, these PF ministers are so heartless to encourage such rubbish. True all their Children are overseas in international schools and want poor Zambians to remain poor and dull. We should stop this nonsense. SHAME ON SATA AND HIS EVIL PEOPLE.
he is not ashamed to have walked in a classroom without desk.
I agree that there is need for improved quality in education but I don’t agree that all is wrong in our education system. The problem is that we use western countries to determine and measure our education standards. The result? We will always be inferior.
I have no doubt that given enough funds to facilitate good schools and training institutions, we are able to develop our own education system and bring forth skilled workforce such as technicians and engineers that our growing economy needs.
“Non vitae, sed scholae discimus” – We learn for life and not for the school
I agree with you, in the sense that why should we be always at the receiving end? Globalization has both advantages and disadvantages. It has done more harm than good to Africa. one of the harm is the killing of the African cultures especially the local Languages. For me teaching in local languages to grades one to four is a very big step the government of PF has made. If an African family that goes to stay in Europe is able to learn their language, why can’t the European family that comes to Africa also learn our language? With the kind of thinking I have seen here, Africa will never develop neither will it claim its sovereignty. Africa! its high time you opened up your eyes to discover and appreciate your identity.
The author introduces a very important subject that needs more coverage in our media. What type of country z will be and is, can be traced to performance of our education system. Z will continue an identiless and impactless existence until the nation chooses what it wants to be and invest in the education systrm to help the nation become that. Right now, most of our achievements feel accidental and z doesnt know her identity – ethnicities included.
monitoring nothing other than promoting shame.. school without desks.
The change for learning instruction to be in local language from grade 1-4 is based on a UN report and common sense.
Firstly: children these days speak english of ‘this kama pen’.. thats a bad recipe for comprehension.
secondly: children need to know their mother toungue. atleast one local language.
thirdly; a scertain group of society who i refer to as the ‘educated illiterates’ think speaking your own llocal language is stone age behaviour
lastly: I like the point of haing a national education autority.
Thumbs up! The Matrix. We need more of such sound thinking.
You know matrix if I had not known the UN systems better I would have taken your observation that teaching of local languages as a result of a UN report as the best idea but having worked under the UN before I would take their reports with a pinch of salt. Having said that I must say your comments are spot on and appeal to my intellect that there is a fight in my poor head to agree or to disagree. For political reasons I do decide to disagree with what you say especially where you compare the local language situation in developed countries and Zambia which is a developing country. We are aid dependent, Poor, and import everything needle included and now you want to convince me that our fortunes might improve for the better if somehow we include local languages.
When we discuss local languages let us put partisanship and isms aside and look at reality. For instance on local langauge broadcast ZNBC has three languges from Northwestern province while other provinces have one. The genocide in Rwanda; what was it really about? The Kenya civil war what was it about? Lets becareful about this language issue and concentrate on what will bring bread and butter on our tables. Thanks.
Biology class in Ichibemba,
Teacher: ‘Children what do you call a v*gina in bemba?’
Children (all at once)’ Ichinyo’
Teacher: ‘Well done!’
@ Kimbanguist wanlepaula, wali wulungana iwee hahahahahehehehihi………
I couldn’t get to read the story after seeing kids in the year 2014 sitting on floor in a classroom. This is a disgrace. I wonder how people resposible for providing basic education to these kids sleep at night. This is just wrong. Whether one has a heart or not for the country, these are innocent kids and don’t deserve to be treated like this.
Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself.
Today`s education is upon self reliance.student`s teacher`s combination is self wise to improve the education sector in Zambia.Culture with community commitments are the source of all knowledge required in the world.