ZANEC

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  • ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON WORLD TEACHER’S DAY

    ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON WORLD TEACHER’S DAY

    Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) joins the rest of the world in commemorating the 2018 World Teacher’s Day. ZANEC is always delighted to commemorate this day because teachers play a very important role in shaping the future of individuals in our societies. Teachers are an extremely important asset of any society for several reasons and their role in society is both significant and valuable. Teachers play a major role in the lives of children during their formative years of development and therefore the importance of teachers cannot be understated. Therefore, our teachers do not only provide education but they also help in moulding students into responsible citizens.

    This year’s theme is “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher”. The theme affirms education as a right. This means that everyone regardless of his or her gender, race, tribe, nationality or status should have access to quality education. Indeed qualified teachers are the cornerstone of an education system at all levels. A qualified teacher is one who is capable of teaching adequately. In ZANEC’s view, it is very important that teachers have the right credentials, certification, motivation and passion in their field of teaching in order to bring about positive learner outcomes.  This is because a teacher without passion cannot succeed, as only passion can stimulate the interest in the learners’ minds. A qualified teacher is capable of inculcating in the learner, the appropriate knowledge and values that inspire positive social, cultural, economic, and political progress. A teacher is thus a mentor who guides learners through the ladder of education. It is therefore the personal responsibility of every teacher to ensure that they play a significant role in both the students’ life and education. Not only do teachers need to deliver their lessons but they also help learners see their future prospects.

    According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),the theme has been chosen to remind the global community that the right to education cannot be achieved without the right to trained and qualified teachers. Even today, a continuing challenge worldwide is the shortage of qualified teachers. Sadly, the shortage of teachers is a big challenge in the Education and Skills Sector that needs to be addressed. In Zambia, there are about 5 million learners against 100,000 teachers, translating into an average of 50 pupils against one (1) teacher. In rural areas, the teacher pupil ratio is even higher as teachers are not evenly distributed.

    It is important to note that since 1994, this day has been commemorated to appreciate teachers across the globe. It is observed that the World Teachers’ Day of 2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) that recognizes education as a key fundamental right especially to free and compulsory education that promotes inclusive and equitable access for all children.  A teacher is therefore very instrumental in the realization of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    The Coalition is of the view that individual teacher qualities, character, qualifications and professional competence are the cornerstones upon which an effective national education system should be anchored.  However, ZANEC notes that in the Ministry of General Education, a total of 3,148 teachers were recruited and deployed to schools across the country in 2017 against a target of 55,000 teachers over the next 10 years. An additional 2,000 teachers is also expected to be recruited before the end of this year. Further, 2,939 teachers are being supported to upgrade their qualifications under the fast-track teacher education programme as highlighted in the  Presidential Speech that was delivered to the National Assembly of Zambia on 14th

    September 2018. As ZANEC, we are concerned that at the current pace that government is recruiting teachers, the current target of 55,000 teachers will not be attainable. We therefore, appeal to the government to consider recruiting at least 5, 500 every year.

    Finally, ZANEC would like to take this opportunity to wish all the teachers in community schools, early childhood care, development and education centres, primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions and Adult Literacy Instructors a happy and fruitful commemoration of the 2018 World Teacher’s Day.

    For/ZANEC

    George Hamusunga

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • PRESS STATEMENT ON THE COMMEMORATION FOR THE DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD- 16th JUNE 2017

    PRESS STATEMENT ON THE COMMEMORATION FOR THE DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD- 16th JUNE 2017

    ZANEC is a Coalition of non-state actors working in the education sector comprising Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBO’s), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Students Union and Teacher Trade Unions (TTUs) working to enhance the provision of education in Zambia. The membership of ZANEC currently stands at sixty-eight (68) Member Organizations spread around the country. As a Coalition, ZANEC is mandated to mobilize CSOs for a unified voice to influence change in the education sector.

    Today, June 16th 2017, ZANEC joins the rest of the world in commemorating the Day of the African Child that is being observed under the theme; “Accelerating Protection, Empowerment and Equal Opportunities for Children in Zambia by 2030 through Child Participation”. It is pleasing for the Coalition that this year’s theme is focusing on issues of protection, empowerment, equal opportunity and fostering child participation.

    On June 16, 1976, nearly ten thousand black students from Soweto, South Africa, marched on the streets of the city to protest on the quality of their education. This was to demonstrate their disapproval of the Black Education Act, which isolated students centered on their race. The day is each year commemorated to reflect on the massacre of the school children during the Soweto Uprising of 1976 who rejected the decision that was made without their participation or involvement. This shows how from way back children’s participation has been ignored in making decisions that impact on them. Since then, Day of the African Child is commemorated beyond race issues to include all other rights of the African child as espoused in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

    Time and again ZANEC has been echoing the need for an inclusive education system that provides an enabling environment for children in Zambia. Children at all levels of the education system from Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary way through to tertiary level are faced with various challenges. Among some of the challenges being faced by the children include inadequate access to quality education, inadequate parental involvement in providing basic Sexual Reproductive Health Information to empower the children in the teen age group to make informed decisions, child marriages and inadequate platforms that are created to foster child participation to mention but a few of the challenges being faced by children especially those in the rural parts of Zambia. It is important for Child Participation to be fostered at all levels so that they can also have a voice on issues that affect them and provide solutions to those issues.

    ZANEC further expresses concern on the inadequate learning facilities for Children with Special Education Needs (CSEN). It is sad to note that these children especially at Early learning level are not being adequately catered for, less still not being provided for space to enable their participation at various levels. ZANEC calls on all stakeholders to ensure that children with Special Education Needs are provided with the needed support so that they are also able to fully enjoy the basic right of access to quality education services.

    ZANEC recommends coordinated efforts by Ministry of General Education, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare to work hand in hand so that children with special education needs are identified at any early stage to enable them access all levels of education.

    As we commemorate the Day of the African Child, ZANEC challenges every Zambian to join in fighting the predicaments faced by children of all age groups and play a role in addressing issues affecting children at household, school and way through to the national level. As the saying goes: “One’s child, is everybody’s child”.

     

    _____________________

    Grace B. Manyonga (Ms.)

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR