MR. PRESIDENT, YOU ARE KILLING THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN
The statement by President Hakainde Sammy Hichilema that people should stop complaining about OVERCROWDING in classrooms makes very sad reading and further exposes the fact that both the President and his Government are completely oblivious to the failure and adverse effects of their so called Free Education policy.
I write this, both as a qualified teacher, myself, and as a parent and guardian with several school going kids and I know firsthand the crisis that is currently obtaining in all government aided schools.
To begin with, the money allocated to support schools is inadequate. Secondly and most importantly, Government has failed to release the budgeted amounts; out of 2.1 Billion Kwacha, Government has only released a paltry 342 million Kwacha to fund schools. This is a drop in the ocean and all Government grant aided schools are struggling to provide the necessary teaching and learning equipment as well as to meet other financial obligations and provide services such as security, water, electricity, etcetera.
To come to the specific issue of overcrowding in classrooms that the President is talking about, this is how it is negatively impacting on the quality of education being provided by the current regime.
1. TEACHER EFFECTIVENESS
Mr. President, a crowded classroom does not allow for the teacher to have enough space and time to tender to each and every pupil hence making it difficult for teachers to effectively impact on pupils, especially those who are slow learners.
Teaching in a crowded classroom is stressful for the teacher, who has to adapt lesson plans to focus more on work that pupils can complete at their desks instead of group work or active projects that require more floor space.
In addition, teachers are demoralised due to too much work for less time and less space.
2 PUPILS’ BEHAVIOUR
Mr. President, it is hard for pupils to concentrate on a lesson in a crowded classroom. This results into poor grades and high failure rates.
Overcrowded classes are denying our pupils personal space and this is making it hard for them to focus on their lessons.
Additionally pupils are uncomfortable in overcrowded classrooms and this is often resulting into squabbles, noise making, even physical confrontations among them; further distracting the pupils from the lessons and making the learning environment toxic altogether.
3. TEACHING AND LEARNING EQUIPMENT
Mr. President, overcrowded classrooms are preventing our pupils from learning how to use science and technology equipment due to lack of both space and equipment, making the teaching and learning of practical subjects ineffective and almost impossible.
So Sir, instead of you glossing over the negative impact of your failed policy, it is prudent that you quickly engage all stakeholders and revisit your policy before it’s too late.
Let your Government deliver quality and not ‘quantity education’. Remember, schooling and education are not one and the same thing, they are different.
Let us strive to give our children quality education not mere schooling.
Issued by
Antonio M. Mwanza
PF Media Director