Education Minister Dora Siliya has reiterated Government’s commitment to promoting a good reading culture among people in the country for social and economic transformation to take place.
Ms Siliya said a good reading culture among citizens in the nation was vital to unlocking the key to economic prosperity for the country as knowledge was power.
The Minister observed that Zambia has a poor reading culture, a situation which she said needed to be reversed as it was inhibiting the country’s economic development.
Ms Siliya said research has shown that no country with high illiteracy levels has ever developed, adding that Government wants to cut illiteracy levels so that the country could go beyond where it is now economically.
She said this in a speech read for her by Director of Standards and Curriculum at the Ministry of Education during celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of Room to Read, an international Non-governmental Organisation that builds education infrastructure and supports girl child education.
Room to Read has been in Zambia for three years now and it has so far constructed 100 libraries in several basic schools in Eastern and Lusaka provinces and will construct another 95 more schools in other localities by the end of this year.
It is also sponsoring 186 secondary school girls in Chongwe district, Lusaka Province under its Girl Education Project (GEP) in its attempt to foster girl child education which was facing a lot of hurdles.
The Minister said Government wants to have a cadre of highly educated Zambians who are able to critically analyse and understand critical issues in the nation.
She said this could only be attained by first improving the literacy levels which still remains a challenge owing to the poor reading culture among the Zambian people.
Ms Siliya said equipping libraries with learning materials was critical to uplifting the country’s educational standards.
She said it was important to inculcate a good reading culture in children early in their lives so they grow up with the interest of reading.
She commended Room to Read for supplementing Government’s efforts in providing quality education for children in the country.
Ms Siliya hoped the partnership between Government and Room to Read continues until educational standards for children are uplifted to their full potential.
And Room to Read Founder John Wood was proud with the success that his organisation has achieved in the ten years it has been in existence.
Mr Wood said his dream of bringing the power of education to millions of the poorest children in different parts of the world is being realised.
He said the goal of reaching 10 million children by the year 2020 was now visible owing to the success that has been scored so far.
[ ZANIS ]
This speech is merely an academic exercise and nobody in the government is even bothered about the illiteracy rates! After all government thrives on peoples illiteracy, illiterate people will not challenge government.
We hear the same old call every year around this time. Its clear this goverment talks more and does nothing to adress the same matters they talk about. boring!
What’s this animal called ‘reading culture’?
If this woman was sincerely interested in the education of the nation she would never shun the UNZA graduation ceremonies. Just like most of her colleagues she is just a hypocrite.
this chi thing used to look do-able nomba she has put on weight, but i can still bonk it one time bane, live no ma one.
I visited my nephew at the copperbelt university six months ago. I was aghast to see students studying in mosquito infested corridors at night as there were no adquate facilities in classrooms and in some cases no electric bulbs. Now, if she is of any value as a minister, shouldnt she look at higher learning institutions first and then clean up the bottom end? This goes without saying that 4 students share rooms that were meant for 1 person. I worry that for a country that needs to develop, eductation is so underdeveloping.
From the outset i’ll be clear that i’m not against eco dev’t.However,she sends the wrong message that the sole aim of education is economic dev’t.Thats why there’s no reading culture as zambians will toss out the books if they can achieve financial goals more easily.True by all means reduce poverty,but reading can be for fun, for healthy lifestyle,how stuff works & knowing your world without neccesarily making monetary gain.
numbala five if you dont like it, get visa and hit the states or uk, thats what people do.
Reading culture without food or jobs iliko bad
Disgusting! With no shame she calls for reduced illiteracy levels while doing everything possible to increase and take advantage of it. You can’t brag about the accomplishments of NGOs and yet turn around and condemn them when they rightfully note that your governance hinders all forms of development Siliya and crew, and neither does echoing non action-backed words of observation move you any closer to attaining illiteracy in Zambia. More children than necessary will run the streets uneducated due to your corrupt ways. You claim to value education but your actions speak otherwise.
John Wood, bravo for the great work you are doing for the children of Zambia!! Never mind the anti government comment on this blog, you have Govt support and that is what matters. Most of these bloggers are living abroad and dont know what they are talking about. Foul mouths like these are costing this country the much needed assistance from donors.
is this lady married? i am in love
Dora bla bla bla bla bla bla…. same s.h.i.t. different dress.
Yaa! At the rate this woman is getting her suits made, we shall run out of curtain materials in zambia!!
Fellow bloggers, don’t mind what comes out of Ms. Piggy’s rotten mouth. It’s just a waste of time. leave such to people like Ndalya live to solve.