48 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE, HOW MUCH HAVE WE ACHIEVED?

By Chrispin Sinyangwe

Education is the major benefactor to the development of any country. How equipped and developed it is, is essential for the sustainability of its education system. Zambia still faces difficulties in this sector. The lack of enough teachers, school materials, infrastructure and education malpractices continue to deteriorate the standards of education.

The Executive Director of Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) Grace Manyonga says Zambia’s education system is progressing, but a number of areas still face challenges. She expressed the fact that the pupil teacher ratio and pupil class ratio was unfair both in rural and urban areas.

She says access to education had increased but the quality had deteriorated with the growing demand of education. Ms Manyonga added on saying, rural areas lack enough teachers, which in turn leads to an unbalanced playing field for examination classes.

 She encouraged the move by the government to recruit 5000 teacher and emphasised that priority should be in rural areas. Ms Mayonga also expressed concern at the deplorable state in which schools in rural areas are in.

“As ZANEC we observed key sectors in education including early childhood education and adult learning which the government has pumped in fewer resources”, she says. Furthermore, Ms Manyonga said early childhood education is significant to the development of any child, and expressed happiness on the debate of early child centres being established in government school.

 “As the population increases there is need for more infrastructure to cater for early childhood and tertiary education ’she adds.

In conclusion Ms Manyonga says, “as we commemorate 48 years of independence it’s important that we examine what we have achieved in the education sector and strive to do more”.

And a 10 pupil from Libala High School who chose to remain anonymous expressed sadness at the poor education system in the country today. She said the lack of seriousness by teachers and the poor infrastructure were really affecting education for many children. She hopes the infrastructure improves following the budget allocation to education in the 2013 National Budget.  

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Media Network Child Rights Development (MNCRD) Mr Henry Kabwe says government has policies aimed at addressing the educational challenges faced by the country.

Mr Kabwe says policies like the educating our future policy focused on how Zambian children were going to help develop the education sector. “The land mark policy almost being adopted for early childhood, care development and education will see an increase in the number of institutions offering early childhood care and may also encourage people to establish more early learning institutions”, he said.

He went on to say that infrastructure is been built but what still remains addressing the lack of teachers.

 Furthermore, Mr Kabwe says examination malpractice has contributed to the slow development in the education sector and also having incompetent people occupying important positions and having them fail to deliver.

He expressed concern in the way rural areas were still lagging behind in terms of infrastructure develop. He says the infrastructure and distance between the people and the schools were still rather far. He says there is need to come up with a plan to bridge the gap between children in rural areas and those in urban areas. Mr Kabwe said it should not always be the case that people in rural areas want to come to town but that development should be taken to rural areas, allowing them to develop their areas.

Mr Kabwe urged the government to keep remembering their pledge and count on civil society organisations for support. He says civil society organisations are not here to fight government but we are here to supplement their efforts.

If Zambia is to uphold Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that every child has a right to education, major strides have to be taken not only to uphold the article but also to improve the quality of education. The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.

IRRESPONSIBLE WASTE DISPOSAL AFFECTS CHILDREN

By Brian Phiri, Catherine Ngulube and Prudence Mutepuka

Irresponsible waste disposal has been on the rise in most urban cities of Zambia and children have not been spared by its effects. Many people in various parts of the country have complained that the councils have not been collecting garbage in town centres and townships on time and sometimes never at all.

“Many of our children tend to play on the dump sites as there are no recreation facilities and hence they end up contracting various diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea and bilharzias,” complains a concerned parent from Kanyama Compound. For some residents in highly populated areas, they feel the council tends to collect waste from high cost areas while neglecting the tonnes of waste that collect in their areas.  Due to uncollected garbage, scavengers have arisen to look for food and other items from the waste. Among those who scavenge are children who lack proper clothing hence are prone to many diseases.

The smell that these heaps of garbage produce especially during the wet season is unbearable Sometimes the garbage is washed away by the rain hence it is impossible to walk through the water that has been mixed the garbage as many water born diseases can be contracted.

Interviews with residents from named compounds around Lusaka revealed that people living in these areas feel neglected. They said they want the council to collect waste as they do in areas the residents call ‘Mayadi’, by collecting from house to house. They say that if this is done there will be no one to dump waste anyhow. Others including children said that the creation of dump sites which are not authorised by the council are due to the fact that the designated dumpsites are so full that when more garbage is dumped, the waste will overflow to the surrounding areas.

But the Lusaka City Council has a different opinion. Lusaka City Council Public Relations Officer, Mr Henry Kapata, says the Council has provided designated places to dump the waste but the mindset of majority of residents has been accustomed to dumping of waste anyhow. Mr Kapata says residents tend to create their own dump areas in the process endangering the lives of their own children and afterwards complain bitterly and blame the Council for not collecting the waste which is in undesignated places.

Mr Kapata cited examples of places were garbage dumping has continued to occur illegally such as the ground behind Mahatma Ghandi Basic School in Mtendere Township. Some pupils of this school talked to, stated that during the rainy season the waste produces an unpleasant smell affecting concentration of children during class. The illegal dump site has also limited the play space for children on the school ground.

Mr Kapata argues that most residents are not ready and willing to pay for garbage disposal while they pay for water and electricity. This has been a major setback as the City Council has no finances to offer free garbage collection services.

According to Mr Kapata, irresponsible dumping of waste coupled with the rain water and debris block the drainages and results in flooding often times.

Despite the challenges being faced by the council due to continued lack of commitment by residents to proper waste disposal, they have continued to educate and inform them.  Mr Kapata says people should not throw or dispose the waste at wrong places, if caught they will be persecuted and charged. “The make Zambia clean and healthy campaign is still on and now is much more effective as anyone who is caught throwing any kind of litter anywhere will be charged or required to perform a duty that will promote cleanliness, “ he says. “And above all we’ll ensure that this knowledge of health is passed on mostly in schools and there the children will learn that ‘charity begins at home,” he adds. The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.

IRRESPONSIBLE WASTE DISPOSAL AFFECTS CHILDREN

By Brian Phiri, Catherine Ngulube and Prudence Mutepuka

Irresponsible waste disposal has been on the rise in most urban cities of Zambia and children have not been spared by its effects. Many people in various parts of the country have complained that the councils have not been collecting garbage in town centres and townships on time and sometimes never at all.

“Many of our children tend to play on the dump sites as there are no recreation facilities and hence they end up contracting various diseases such as cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea and bilharzias,” complains a concerned parent from Kanyama Compound. For some residents in highly populated areas, they feel the council tends to collect waste from high cost areas while neglecting the tonnes of waste that collect in their areas.  Due to uncollected garbage, scavengers have arisen to look for food and other items from the waste. Among those who scavenge are children who lack proper clothing hence are prone to many diseases.

The smell that these heaps of garbage produce especially during the wet season is unbearable Sometimes the garbage is washed away by the rain hence it is impossible to walk through the water that has been mixed the garbage as many water born diseases can be contracted.

Interviews with residents from named compounds around Lusaka revealed that people living in these areas feel neglected. They said they want the council to collect waste as they do in areas the residents call ‘Mayadi’, by collecting from house to house. They say that if this is done there will be no one to dump waste anyhow. Others including children said that the creation of dump sites which are not authorised by the council are due to the fact that the designated dumpsites are so full that when more garbage is dumped, the waste will overflow to the surrounding areas.

But the Lusaka City Council has a different opinion. Lusaka City Council Public Relations Officer, Mr Henry Kapata, says the Council has provided designated places to dump the waste but the mindset of majority of residents has been accustomed to dumping of waste anyhow. Mr Kapata says residents tend to create their own dump areas in the process endangering the lives of their own children and afterwards complain bitterly and blame the Council for not collecting the waste which is in undesignated places.

Mr Kapata cited examples of places were garbage dumping has continued to occur illegally such as the ground behind Mahatma Ghandi Basic School in Mtendere Township. Some pupils of this school talked to, stated that during the rainy season the waste produces an unpleasant smell affecting concentration of children during class. The illegal dump site has also limited the play space for children on the school ground.

Mr Kapata argues that most residents are not ready and willing to pay for garbage disposal while they pay for water and electricity. This has been a major setback as the City Council has no finances to offer free garbage collection services.

According to Mr Kapata, irresponsible dumping of waste coupled with the rain water and debris block the drainages and results in flooding often times.

Despite the challenges being faced by the council due to continued lack of commitment by residents to proper waste disposal, they have continued to educate and inform them.  Mr Kapata says people should not throw or dispose the waste at wrong places, if caught they will be persecuted and charged. “The make Zambia clean and healthy campaign is still on and now is much more effective as anyone who is caught throwing any kind of litter anywhere will be charged or required to perform a duty that will promote cleanliness, “ he says. “And above all we’ll ensure that this knowledge of health is passed on mostly in schools and there the children will learn that ‘charity begins at home,” he adds. The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.

ZAMBIA COMMEMORATES FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD

On Thursday 11^th October, 2012; Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child, under the theme “ending child marriages in Zambia”. The day was commenced with a solidarity walk from the Lusaka Main Post Office to the Government Complex, where the day was celebrated.

The introduction of this day in the Zambian calendar could not have come at a better time as this when the girl child is evenly being violated. However, with the coming of this day: girls and organisations have been given an opportunity to raise public awareness on the different challenges being faced by the girl child. This year’s theme could not have come at a better time than now, when the issue of child marriages is proving to be of great concern to the nation.

Children are a key part of any society and as such their right to survival, protection and development cannot be over emphasized. The involvement of children (boys and girls) in the commemorations is a welcome move as this will help effectively address issues that affect the fulfilment of their rights. Child marriages is a violation of human rights, in Zambia child marriage rates are highly alarming. Child marriage in Zambia currently stands at 41.6 percent. Among married girls aged 15-18, 68 percent of these girls having already given birth.

Speaking during the commemorations of the International Day of the Girl Child, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Child Development Ms Edwigde Mutale said campaigns like these are very significant, because they make people aware of the negative things that happen to girls.

Ms Mutale outlined some of the measures government is taking to address early marriages and other negative challenges faced by the girl child. “The setting up of the Ministry Chiefs and Traditional Affairs will enable government work with chiefs in order to do away with the negative traditional practices which affect the girl child”, she said.

She further said that government has put in place measures to encourage girl child education in Zambia such as the low cut off point at grade 7, and the re-entry policy which provides the opportunity for girls to return to school and continue with their education after falling pregnant. She revealed that government is in the process of domesticating the Convention on Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international conventions which the government has signed and ratified.

However, the children have an appeal to government and other stakeholders on their welfare and rights. The children want government to put in place measures that will protect the girl child against early marriages, as it impacts negatively on their development. Bertha Phiri of Kabulonga Girls High School said government and other stakeholders should take up an active role in sensitizing parents on the negative effects of early marriages on the girl child.  “Government should also educate parents on the importance of girl child education and its immense benefits to the nation”, she said.

As the country commemorates this day, we must take into consideration challenges being faced by the girl child; there is need for the country to put across legislations pertaining to children to ensure children are protected from all forms of violence. This day signifies the need to put girls’ rights at the centre of the national agenda. As the saying goes “children are the building blocks of any nation” and as such it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure their rights are protected.

- The Children’s News Agency with support from European Union.