The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) in Northern Province has expressed its disappointment for revision of a Grade-12 minimum qualification for people seeking public office in the country.
JCTR regional coordinator, Felix Chiwela says it is unfortunate that some politicians are not comfortable with the Grade 12 qualification when it was passed by Parliament last year.
Mr. Chiwela wondered why some political parties were now condemning the clause for minimum qualification for individuals seeking to be
elected Councillors or Members of Parliament when they in-fact advocated for the same in the past.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Kasama today that Government should not to rescind its decision on the matter, adding that doing so may go against the
wishes of majority Zambians who are comfortable with the clause.
Mr. Chiwela observed that the reviewing the Grade 12 clause in the constitution will also increase levels of illiteracy in the nation as
some people may not value the importance of education to national development.
The JCTR regional coordinator has since urged some politicians who do not have G12 certificates to go back to school and obtain the qualification in
order to add value to political dispensation of the country.
Of late, there has been a debate among sections of society regarding the constitutional requirement for one to hold a minimum of Grade 12
in order to seek for election to public office.
We want leaders to have a minimum G12 education so that they can find a job outside. Otherwise they want to stay in government forever. G12 requirement is consistent with planning for Zambia’s future. Those without it can challenge themselves to get it. Beside it is a personal investment.
The G12 clause is a progressive clause. We can’t continue with the current mediocrity where the affairs of the nation have been left in the hands of the illiterate cadres. Its shocking to learn that the MPs who passed the constitution cannot understand the contents of the very document they passed. We don’t want the Speaker to be turned into a pre school teacher due to the mediocre Mps. Let’s not turn government institutions into a dumping area for the illiterate cadres.
Of course what good can come from people like thickneck Chimbwili (grad from Copperstone). Instead of seeing this piece of legislation as progressive & futuristic, they can only see up to 11/08 (as in meaning up to their belly button). Positive people will in 2021 look back & say this is one of the best decisions we ever made. If the govt that takes over after 11/08 prioritises education, you will see the rate at which everyone will be chasing for at least a college diploma.
THE GRADE 12 LAW HAS BEEN PASSED BY MAJORITY ZAMBIAN AND IT CANNOT BE CHANGED BECAUSE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENT IS SCARED BECAUSE HIS JOB HAS COME TO AN END. THE ONES WHO ARE COMPLAINING, THE LAW-MAKERS ARE THE ONES WHO DEBATED AND SIGNED IT OFF. DOES IT MEAN THEY ARE SO ILLITERATE THEY DID NOT EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE SIGNING OFF? HOW CAN ONE MAKE LAW IF THEY DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND IT? THIS IS THE REASON YOU BE G12s OR BETTER. IN FACT, I THOUGHT THE BAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED TO A DIPLOMA FOR THEM MPs TO REALLY BE CALLED LAWMAKERS AND FOR THE OTHERS TO START APPRECIATING SCHOOL. RETAIN THAT LAW, PLEASE.
This must be a starting point that must steadily adjust upwards. The next stop is removing individual egos from governance. We need strong institutions that will bring everyone to account regardless of their titles. I like what is happening in SA right now!!