Some pupils at Hatontola Basic School in Monze District are learning under a tree due to inadequate classrooms .
And 1,200 farmers from 37 agriculture cooperatives in Monze District have been trained in bee-keeping aimed at uplifting their livelihoods through the sale of honey.
Monze District Commissioner Biggie Mwiinde who visited the school today during his tour of developmental projects found some pupils learning under a tree because of a shortage of classrooms.
Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman Emerson Mweemba told the District Commissioner that the increase in the number of school pupils has put pressure on the existing four classroom blocks.
Mr. Mweemba said the school needs more classroom blocks to contend with the increase in the number of pupil enrolments.
“As you can see Sir, we are forced to teach some pupils outside under a tree due to inadequate classrooms as the number of pupils being enrolled is on the upswing,” said Mr. Mweemba.
Senior School teacher Gracious Miyoba said the school which enrols pupils from grade one to grade nine has a total of 498 pupils and 7 teachers out of an establishment of 12 two of whom are volunteers.
Ms Miyoba also said lack of new teaching materials in Tonga language has affected pupil’s performance.
“ We do not have the new syllabus in Tonga and you will find that for instance pupils in grade two are still doing syllabus for grade one because we have not yet received the new teaching materials in Tonga for grade two,” said Ms Miyoba.
According to school records pass rate for all pupils at the school was at 9.6 per cent in 2015 examination results.
But Mr. Mwiinde praised the teachers for accepting to work in the rural areas and urged them to continue working hard as government was committed to addressing a myriad of challenges facing the education sector.
Meanwhile, nursing staff at Siatontola Rural Health Centre (RHC) complained that the health facility was infested with bats which are posing a health hazards to both patients and health workers.
And Monze District Forest Officer Andrew Kamwi said the bee-keeping projects which ends in December this year was funded by the Netherlands Development Organisation adding that 200 bee hives have been set up in various part so the District to enable farmers harvest honey and sale to make a living.
He however pointed out that lack of a proper market for honey was one of the challenges faced by farmers in the District.
“This project has been funded by the Netherland Development Organisation and is aimed at helping farmers to generate an income through bee keeping but I must hasten to say that lack of a proper market for honey is one of the challenges farmers are facing,” said Mr. Kamwi.
“ For instance , this year we expect to harvest about 4 tonnes of honey from this project but what is worrying is that there is no stable market for honey for farmers to make a profit,” he added.
The PF govt cares less about education, the minister of education just busy politicking and insulting women in parliament.
Hahaha ba LusakaTime, reporting as if this is a very unique problem to Monze.!!This is a very common problem in almost all the parts of Zambia. Having had a chance to visit almost all the provinces in Zambia due to my work, poverty is the same everywhere. Go to Chadiza, chama, mwense, nakonde, chinsali, mwinilunga, kalabo, everywhere kids are learning from outside due to limited classrooms. Singling out Monze as if it’s a unique case is very funny.!! This is none political, but just stating the facts.
I guess this came as a shock to the Lusaka times reporters because in all other parts of the country none of the kids are learning under a tree????If you know Zambia very well, not just Lusaka and the CB, you will know that most of the public schools are in very bad shaped or non existent and children learn from open spaces or under trees.
But their presisdent of Zouthern province is rich, he stole money from copperbelt,why is he not taking it to southern .
….this article could have gone well with the picture…..
HH Should donate to such a noble cause. It is a mammoth task but we voted for him and he has to show some appreciation. By the way, when is he coming to thank us for the January 20th votes!
He is one stingy person ,so in your mind you think he will help you because you are Tonga? wake up and not vote on tribal lines.
Show me any person he has helped apart from sponsoring unza students to demonstrate ,he pays them k5000 a week, that can build a classroom.
Kindly this school is not for HH but in the hands of the PF Government which is suppose to improve such schools not just making statements on media on free and access to education by all.
Don’t bring in HH,you are tribalistic yourselves,why hate Tongas.We need capable people to rule Zambia.PF has done damage already.For a fact,the kwacha is yet to lose value,we are in deep trouble..
president lungu and sata have failed the economic of zambia.
If it’s pleasantly hot, being outdoors could be lovely!
I used to enjoy my ecology classes, being outdoors laying on the grass with my enlarging glasses observing ant life in the undergrowth. Day dreaming of my little boyfriend at Munali boys whose now grown into an absolute pig!
Let’s embrace and create outdoor spaces for learning. These are remote areas and have little airline activity. Of course, we should also have sheltered classrooms for wet/cold weather.
I should add seriously, it’s health imparting. Lots of air and is less stifling. As soon as the bell goes when you are forced to leave the outdoors to enter the class, students drag their feet, ever noticed that? Takes time to settle the class.
Be innovative and not condemn the advantages of good weather and clean air and Soave in the provinces which are out of urban areas.
Halcyon days!
And glory (not Soave) in the provinces which are out of urban areas.