A former pupil and teacher of Buseko Primary School in Kitwe’s Buchi Township has appealed to former pupils to go back and help their former schools in order to improve the standards of education in Zambia.
Simon Kabanda who was a pupil between 1971 and 1977 and later returned as a teacher in 1986 said it is important for former pupils to assist their former schools in whichever way possible.
Mr Kabanda who was elected Interim Chairman of the Lusaka based members of the Buseko School Old Pupils and Teachers Association on Saturday said most old schools in Zambia are dilapidated and requires urgent attention.
“We decided to come together as former pupils of Buseko to explore ways in which we could assist our former school. This is the first association of former pupils at a primary school coming together and we are determined to help the school return its former glory,” Mr Kabanda said.
He said, “As much as the government is building new schools, we feel old schools equally need attention but we also believe that waiting on the government to start rehabilitating these schools is a far-fetched dream and this is the reason we are coming together to assist the government take care of our former school.”
Mr Kabanda said the report from the School Manager Ms Matildah Chisunka over the deplorable state of the school infrastructure prompted the formation of the association.
He said the there is need to construct more classrooms to accommodate a population of 1,800 pupils adding that the school only has 12 classrooms.
“We also need a Computer room at the school, it is sad that there is no ablution block for teachers and they also do not have a Staff room. We also need to Books for Grades 1 to 7 in all subjects and the issue of electrifying classrooms is also important,” Mr Kabanda said.
He also appealed to former pupils at home and in the Diaspora to contact the association on 0950 304123 or join the Facebook page Buseko OldPupils and contribute to the cause.
Meanwhile, Norah Kipenda who attended Buseko Primary School between 1984 and 1988 called on former pupils to come forward and help the school.
Ms. Kipenda who is now a teacher at David Kaunda Technical School in Lusaka said the current state of the school leaves much to be desired and requires urgent attention.
“I was motivated to join the association after my former teacher Mr Kabanda sold the idea to me. This is where most of our lives started from and it is only fair that we look back to see how we could help,” she said.
Buseko Primary School in Kitwe’s Buchi Township is one of the oldest schools in Kitwe opened around 1940s.
That’s encouraging especially its at primary level,hope to copy from u and form one for kapyanga in mumbwa.was their 1981-84.
You obviously failed your English Language. Look up the difference of ‘their’ and ‘there’. Phew!
But I have been paying tax to the govt for the same purpose of fixing things at my former schools. How can I afford to support all the five schools I went to. I went through 4 primary and 2 secondary schools.
Please account for my tax revenue for past 22 years.
it is called social responsibility. the problem is you think government can solve all the problems including cleaning your bathroom.
@the matrix, you seem not to know govt responsibility. Our govt is over taxing us, let them account for all taxes. Not always flying business class and staying for 14 days working holiday with an entourage of over 30 people. They campaigned by telling people that they will do abcd, not asking you to buy desks using your overtaxed salary.
Work up before you are milked to the bone.
what is over taxing? you are one of the least taxed people in africa. the money you think exists is an illusion coz you thinking of a country like a kantemba. you are paying the least tax in zambian histroy as a worker. dont just talk based on emotions, isula umutwe and have some concrete figures to debate with. not based on blog sites and skewed thinking. you the people spoiling our generation by making them think they dont have any role to play in development except leave it for Government and become an arm chair critic. with keyboard ideas.
Matrix you are behaving like a PF street vendor who does not pay tax. How on earth can you say 35% tax is low?. You must be one of the vendors who do not seem to appreciate the role being played by citizens in formal employment.
I still demand that the govt should be accountable first. Social responsibility is practiced everywhere in the developed countries like America and Britain, but it does not involve buying desks (like in this school) and putting a roof on classroom.
the problem is you think every one who does not agree with your skewed thinking is PF or a vendor or unlearned. Tax rate you are qouting is the upper bracket. the same upper bracket in UK is at 45%. in south africa the upper bracket is 40%.In Namibia its @ 37%. in Zimbabwe its 46.40%. in Angola its 35%. Even in developed countries charities rehanilitate public places inculding schools. dont be greedy and arrogant fro nothing. do some research then argue your points properly with facts than emotions. you will be of much help to the country in that way. besides whats wrong with assisting government by donating? thats why I say politics is = Ubupuba multiply by ifyakulandalanda divide by greed. Imwe tata mulelandalandafye based on no facts.
The point still is if we do not hold our leaders to account for the public funds they are entrusted with, there will be a lot of unhappy citizens, who at the end of the day will be very unwilling to commit themselves to charity work. As a result of that action, very little will be achieved by the few who are willing to get involved, hence their efforts will be futile.
The standard of living in the UK coupled with better pay makes it not necessary to compare them to the Zambian situation. As for the other African countries like Zim, Namibia and South Africa, the cost of fuel is cheaper, resulting in cheap essential commodities and better quality of life.
Why are you insulting instead of using sober language only?.
The debate between the two gentlemen is interesting. It seems you both have valid points which must be taken seriously. Yes we need to contribute to developing our country through such initiatives as the Buseko Former Pupils Association. But at the same time we need to hold our leaders accountable to ensure as much as possible our tax money is put to good use and not flying a few to overseas for treatment especially to South Africa; while leaving UTH and other hospitals in a bad state for the rest of us to use. In future we shall be asking former patients to come up with associations to help retain staff in this institutions.
You see people should be realistic and argue based on fact. A certain group of people just becasue they are not the powers be think Zambia is the most corrupt nation to ever exist, and every official in the office is either busy stealling or womanizing. in the 2013 corruption index. Zambia is ranked #83 from a list of 175 countries in the world. thats not a good score but it shows you that we are in the right direction therefore holding leaders accountable should not be used as an excuse not to be a responsible citizen and take up your role in the society by doin something action oriented other than sittin on the keyboard and typing utopia concepts. when it comes to the price of fuel,its not the taxes that make up the high cost.anywway before i continue maybe i need to know you profession?
Talk about your profession first, then I will tell you about mine.
Regarding the cost fuel, we buy it from the same source as our neighbors. What do you have to say about fuel being cheap in war torn DRC/Lubumbashi which is about 2600 kilometers from the either Dar es Salaam or Durban?.
I would understand if you are some sort of a Ka businessman because Zambian traders/Ka Ntemba businesspeople usually forget the existence of other people’s challenges, especially those in the formal sector who cannot evade paying tax.
Some of these traders are very shallow minded, they think everything revolves around them. When they make some money after evading tax at the borders, they think the rest of us are just lazy.
Contact me
With all this money govt has? i’d have to be mad to do that. Isn’t the tax am paying enough? where are the fuel & maize subsidies?
The billions we spend on one bye-election can go a long way in helping out these schools.I think we are just becomeing a bunch of people who have misplaced opportunities.
it’s important for school administrators to be welcoming to former pupils, if this support is to be forthcoming- Administrators must and should play a facilitator role in coordinating the support from former pupils-
Government has already budgeted for schools. So they do not need your money. Remember what they told GBM?
This is a very good initiative, Even if the government intends to do something about the state of these schools, it wont hurt to help where we can. As Zambians we are so dependent on the government for everything. The government is us, If as a citizen, one sees infrastructure falling to pieces, one should do something. These former students are investing in the future of our country and they should be commended. The present children at Buseko will hopefully learn the importance of voluntary work when they see what the former pupils are doing to elevate the standrds of their school.