TERAPROOF:User:berniecrowleyDate:09/11/2010Time:10:17:22Edition:09/11/2010Tuetuesecho091110Page:12 Zone:EE
EE - V1 EE - V1
12 NEWS
IN THE second day of our series documenting life in Zambia, Evening Echo reporter Helen Walsh
examines advances in education on a visit to a bustling Lusaka suburb, and in the remote village of
Shimungalu she sees how two schools, co-funded by misean cara, have changed the lives of children in
ABOVE: One of the concrete classrooms that stu-
dents of Matero had to go to each day before the new
school was built, pictured below.
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those communities.
HE children sang Bye Bye Pillars as
they gathered in the afternoon sun-
shine. Having just moved into their
new school building, they were bid-
ding a happy farewell to the rows of con-
crete where they used to sit without desks,
books and even a door.
Resembling something out of a farmyard,
the tiny rooms, exposed to the elements,
were the only classrooms that hundreds of
children living in the Matero area of Lusaka
ever knew.
Today, due in part to co-funding from
misean cara, the pupils of the Matero Ana
Amasiye School Project, which is run by the
Jesuit Fathers, have a new school building
complete with doors, desks and black-
boards.
On a visit to the school just weeks after it
opened, the entire student body gathered
outside to greet their Irish guests.
Each class performed a sketch, poem,
song or dance — all with the same theme.
Choruses of “Bless our sponsors”, “Bye
Picture: Amy Colley Bye Pillars” and “Thank you sponsors”
rang through the large yard.
Speaking on behalf of the parents, teach-
ers and students, head teacher Ms Concidi
Mwanza said she could not find the words to
express they way everyone felt.
“Every day we see the children’s eyes
smiling in the new classrooms. They are so
happy. Most have never been in any school
like this one. It is their first time sitting at a
desk; they’ve never known what it is to sit
at a desk.”
This school is one of many throughout
Africa that has been funded by Irish taxpay-
ers via misean cara.
There have been major advances in
Zambia towards meeting the Millennium
Development Goal on universal primary
education.
The goal is that by 2015 children every-
where, boys and girls alike, will to be able to
complete a full course of primary school-
ing.
The Zambian school system consists of
grades one to seven at primary level, and
eight to 12 at secondary level.
The most recent figures show that enrol-
ment for grades one to seven increased from
1.6 million in 2000 to 2.9 million in 2008.
Since 2000, the total number of primary
schools has increased from 5,324 to 8,195 and
the number of community schools, which
serve the poorest children, increased from
883 to 2,994.
One such community school is in Shimun-
galu village near Mazabuka in a region
dubbed “the sweetest part of Zambia”.
Shimungalu is a small fishing village situ-
ated on the Kafue River, which is accessed
by driving through dozens of large sugar-
cane plantations.
The school took root under a mango tree
in 1997 before land was donated for a church
and school by a local woman.
Sister Madeline Kelly was based in
Shimungalu when the community first ap-
proached the order.
“One woman and four men came to us
asking for help and we told them that for
every bag of cement they got themselves,
that we’d match it.”
Edson Chipozre was one of those who first
went to the Sisters.
“We saw that the children were doing
nothing in the village and started the school
under the mango tree. We went to the Sis-
ters of Charity and worked as a community
to build the school.
“It took four years from deciding to start
the school to opening it, but we’re very
happy to have it.”
Now a member of the parents’ association,
Edson made a point of thanking the people
of Ireland for contributing towards the cost
of the school.
“The children are eager and willing to
learn. The problem is that books and pencils
are expensive. We are very happy to have
classes up to grade nine, but would like to
(YHQLQJ (FKR Tuesday, November 9, 2010
‘It is their
first time
sitting at
a school
desk’
Sister Madeleine at the Chikuni Mission
Hospital, Zambia Picture: Amy Colley
offer up to grade 12.
“After finishing grade nine, children have
to walk at least 13 to 15 kilometres to the
nearest secondary school and if we could
offer those classes in the village, more chil-
dren would be likely to attend,” he added.
Children from the many islands in the
Kafue River also attend the school.
Edson said: “Island families build homes
here in the village, where the children stay
from Monday to Friday before going back to
the islands.
“At present, there are between 20 to 30
children from the islands attending the
school and they live on their own during the
week so that they can attend school.”
At present there are some 717 pupils from
600 households attending the school — 354
girls and 353 boys.
Inside the classrooms, the children are
crammed onto seats and there are few
posters on the walls.
Such is the demand for schooling, that the
(YHQLQJ (FKR Tuesday, November 9, 2010 NEWS 13
Classes can have up to 50 pupils
ALTHOUGH the number of teaching jobs are being created Education is the primary focus for
children attending school in every year and 2,500 classrooms Irish Aid’s programme in Zambia
Zambia has increased, there is are being built, it doesn’t meet and it supports the government
concern about the quality of current needs. by funding the School Grants
education being delivered. He said: “Good quality education Mechanism.
According to regulations set by is key to development. It’s aim is to improve access to
the Ministry of Education, there Development can’t take place education and increase enrolment
can be up to 50 pupils per class. without it. by building new schools and
It is not uncommon to see “The initial focus is on primary expanding existing ones; improve
children sandwiched next to each school education but there is the quality of education through
other on desks or an overflow of recognition that the focus needs to increased teacher training and
children sitting on the ground. turn to secondary and third level. deployment, development new
The Irish ambassador to Zambia, “There was a lot of focus here on curricula and educational
Carrigtwohill native, Tony Cotter academic learning rather than materials and to provide
said more infrastructure, schools technical learning, but in recent educational support for girls,
and teachers are needed. years, a big effort is being made to orphans and vulnerable children,
Enrolment in 2009 reached 3.8 increase vocational education and children with special
million and although 5,000 opportunities,” Mr Cotter said. needs.
Stella Nkhoma, Patrice Malasha, Irish ambassador to Zambia, Carrigtwohill
native, Tony Cotter and Yvonne Chomba at Matero; and below, a welcome song
and dance by school children at Shimangalu. Picture: Amy Colley
day is broken into two sessions with one
group of children attending in the morning
Numbers of teachers on increase
EDUCATION
and the others in the afternoon.
The art room was void of art supplies, but
I was surprised as one student after another FACTFILE
presented their art work.
There were beautiful mosaics made from THE Zambian school
seeds of the ground, a paper maché lion, im-
pressive clay pieces and colourful stencil
system consists of grades
one to seven at primary
work. level and eight to 12 at
In each of the classrooms I visited, the stu- secondary level.
dents stood up and performed songs, poems ● Recent figures show that
or sketches. enrolment for grades one
Despite having few books, they focused on to seven increased from
preparing for their State exams later this 1.6 million in 2000 to 2.9
month. million in 2008 and 3.8
Many of the students won’t go on to sec- million in 2009.
ondary level because of the distance to the ● Since 2000, the total
nearest school, however parents are adam- number of primary schools
ant that the children will one day be able to has increased from 5,324
complete their secondary education in to 8,195 and the number of
Shimungalu. community schools, which
Bridget Nyemba is a traditional birth as- serve the poorest children,
sistant in the village and a member of the increased from 883 to
school’s parents’ association. 2,994.
She said the school had changed the lives ● With Irish Aid support,
of those in the fishing village. the number of primary
“We are so very happy to have a school school teachers employed
nearby. The children used to have to walk by the Zambian
12 kilometres to the nearest school and Government has increased
would take a lot of time.” from 37,000 in 2000 to
Her son Nickson started school at the age more than 65,000 in 2009,
of eight and today, aged 17, he is in grade ��� ������� ����������� ������� while the number of
eight. ������ � ������ classrooms built annually
She said: “I am very strict with him and has increased from less
make sure he comes to school. He wants to
��� ��� ���� � ����������� �� than 500 in 2007 to more
become a doctor, but must finish his four �� ���� �������� ���������� than 2000 this year.
years here first. He will then have to go on ● The proportion of
to secondary school. There is no money for ���������� government spending on
transport so if a school was built here, we education has increased
would be very happy.” from 14% in 2007 to 19%
● Tomorrow, we look at how antiretroviral today.
treatment has transformed the lives of thou- ● An Irish Aid funded
sands of Zambians and speak to a university campaign promoting zero
student about being HIV positive. tolerance of child abuse
Helen Walsh travelled to Zambia with
misean cara.
has been taken up in more
than 600 schools.