MINISTER of Higher Education Michael Kaingu has advised Zambians to remember that some people were admitted to universities and obtained Bachelor of Arts degrees and certificates after passing aptitude tests without necessarily possessing a Grade 12 certificate.
He said this should be a consideration as people debate the new constitutional requirement for one to contest parliamentary, local government and mayoral elections on August 11.
Dr Kaingu said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that in the olden days, people without Grade 12 certificates were allowed to pursue various disciplines at universities if they passed aptitude tests.
“People should, therefore, understand that any college certificate or university certificate is higher than a Grade 12 certificate.
“So as people debate this important issue in the Zambian Constitution, let them compare the two and it is important also that people know or understand what is higher between the two,” he said.
Dr Kaingu said although he cannot speak on behalf of the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ), it is important that people understand what qualification is higher between Grade 12 certificate and a university certificate.
The recently amended constitution states that one of the requirements for one to contest a parliamentary or local government seat is a minimum education qualification of a Grade 12 certificate or its equivalent.
I totally agree, e.g people like GBM and William Banda. Please let the man be running mate to HH
This is a red herring. It is of no consequence to millions of Zambians.
#ChagwaMustFall
The constitution is clear a grade 12 certificate or nothing. Dr Kaigu, do you fall this category as well? If yes you are out.
I don’t care what Kaingu is saying, I simply dislike the guy.
The constitution is clear a grade 12 certificate or nothing. Dr Kaingu, do you fall this category as well? If yes you are out.
Kaingu, another suggestion for PamaFi is that they should go back to living in caves becoz people in olden days did so!!
#chagwamustfall!!
Vote UPND 2016!!
I thank you!
It seems Kaingu has been caught with his pants down on the grade twelve clause. I wouldn’t be surprised if he forfeits his MWANDI seat on this account. I hear the man got his degree from MANCOSA hence his lobbyist appeal to the general public or I suppose it’s desperation
IN THE UK A MATURE MAN OR WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN WORKING PROFESSIONALLY CAN ENROLL AT A UNIVERSITY AS A MATURE STUDENT WITHOUT HAVING COMPLETED ONE’S SECONDARY EDUCATION. THIS IS BECAUSE IN CONTEXT, HAVING BEEN WORKING WOULD HAVE TAUGHT ONE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PRACTICAL CONCEPTS AND THEORIES BEING AT SECONDARY SCHOOL WOULD HAVE. IN ANY CASE IF ONE HAS A GENUINE DEGREE IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ASK THEM FOR A SECONDARY CERTIFICATE UNLESS THE ONE ASKING DOESN’T KNOW WHAT A DEGREE MEANS. IT’S LIKE ASKING A MIDDLE AGED PERSON IF THEY REALLY PASSED THROUGH ADOLESCENCE.
What Peter says makes a lot of sense. Why would you ask for my Grade one admission form when you find me doing my masters?
Dr. Kaingu you are speaking now as a mature leader. One can enroll for a Degree class when he is above 35 years as a mature student as long as he has a Junior certificate and has been doing a professional job not less than 5 years. Many schools outside Zambia look at this as point of entry. A degree is higher than a grade 12 Certificate and one has to show other his/her professional qualifications like certificate in Acc, diploma Agriculture etc to an accredited institution of learning before he/she is enrolled.
The affiliation of that institution is also important or else one can acquire a Matero University.
Kaingu, obviously with the blessing of Edgar, with the latter (as usual) trying to appear as innocent as possible, is trying to sway the Zambian public towards doing away with the grade certificate requirement….It’s a political circus, which at the same time is just a manifestation of the little regard that some of our politicians have for the rest of us. We, the people of Zambia, have the power to teach them a lesson if we cease to be petty (e.g in our debates) and take the interests of this country seriously.
A degree or diploma may be higher than a grade certificate quite alright, but honestly, doesn’t it make sense to have a minimum requirement, to set a standard, for those aspiring to be candidates for various political offices? We’ll add value to secondary education by upholding this certificate requirement. MPs passed the current constitution, now they’re backtracking because it’s dawning upon them that some of their possible candidates automatically get disqualified….This is about us a country setting a standard for ourselves. It should not be about increasing the fortunes of a party. No. Colleagues, we’ve got to have standards! Let’s maintain that clause!
Its grade 12 no more no less bwana !
Bwana is it the certificate (the paper) or quality of thinking you are looking for? What was the intention of the clause? Can that intention be achieved otherwise?
You are misleading yourself.
Grade 12 certificate is a foundation of rational thinking
@mdz
I think the intention was quality of thinking. But we have a situation right now of MPs who passed the constitution in parliament, only to realize later that they are now disqualified from standing for parliament. The situation begs the question: What is the level of thinking in the current composition of parliament? Did they think about what they were voting for? Do they EVER think about what they vote for??? Did they even read the constitutional amendments before voting on them???
Its grade 12 certificate no more no less bwana !
How does the requirement read in the constitution? “Minimum Grade 12 certificate” or “Grade 12 certificate a must” even if one has higher qualifications from a tertiary institution? Where was Kaingu and co. when the constitution was discussed in parliament? Why is he crying foul now after the jubilations that followed the passing of the constitution?
By the way Malupenga and Kaingu must work on those toad-like tummies.
THE AMENDED CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENT OF POSSESSING A GRADE TWELVE MUST STAND,THERE IS NO COMPROMISE, IF ONE DOES NOT HAVE GRADE TWELVE OR EQUIVALENT CERTIFICATE SHOULD JUST REGISTER NEXT YEAR. THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME TO DEBATE THE SAME IN PARLIAMENT BUT A RUSH TO HAVE IT PASSED WAS DONE. THE ONLY CONSOLATION IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BARRED ANYONE FROM SITTING FOR GRADE TWELVE EXAMS. I AM HUMBLY REQUESTING OUR LOVELY AND INTELLIGENT PRESIDENT H.E MR EDGAR C LUNGU NOT TO CHANGE WHAT HE SIGNED ALREADY. FOR THIS SHALL ENCOURAGE ZAMBIANS TO WORK HARD ACADEMICALLY.
THE AMENDED CONSTITUTION REQUIREMENT OF POSSESSING A GRADE TWELVE MUST STAND,THERE IS NO COMPROMISE, IF ONE DOES NOT HAVE GRADE TWELVE OR EQUIVALENT CERTIFICATE SHOULD JUST REGISTER NEXT YEAR. THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME TO DEBATE THE SAME IN PARLIAMENT BUT A RUSH TO HAVE IT PASSED WAS DONE. THE ONLY CONSOLATION IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BARRED ANYONE FROM SITTING FOR GRADE TWELVE EXAMS. I AM HUMBLY REQUESTING OUR LOVELY AND INTELLIGENT PRESIDENT H.E MR EDGAR C LUNGU NOT TO CHANGE WHAT HE SIGNED ALREADY. FOR THIS SHALL ENCOURAGE ZAMBIANS TO WORK HARD ACADEMICALLY.
We do not want degrees, PHDs, diplomas but a grade twelve certificate only.
Some mps ran away and now they want to change no. They must have included not less than 24 points including maths and sciences
Thank God that he is not the only who has realised that issue. this always happens when you want to punish one person without you realising that you really. need time to research on time. this is the reason why we have exams coming early coz many do not have the grade 12 certificate
It is grade twelve in the constitution whether you poses a diploma or a degree the law says a grade twelve.
GBM had been managing a business for many years,he qualifies for direct entry into a degree programme for business studies due to his hands on experience.perhaps unza does not allow this but in Europe its allowed.so what is grade 12 equivalent??
Where was Kaingu and all these people that are talking today when the Constitution was only a draft. These people without grade 12 certificates did not even read the draft constitution. I think ECL should fire Kaingu before he says even prostitutes like his daughter should becomes members of parliament.
Speaking for yourself ka? I always wondered how some people with PhDs reason like Grade 7 failures. Just produce the Grade 12 certificate bwana. They thought they were dribbling GBM not knowing they were scoring an own goal
when a vote in parliament took place for the amendments to be made law by the president someone was singing a twabawina song not having assessed the consequences of what they had just done SHI John waloba ilyauma
According to Kaingu, a fella who has married two or more wives but never paid lobola for any of them is a better husband (and father if you may add) than one who has only one wife and settled his lobola in full?
These empty tin ministers have no respect for their dull leader Edgar who said this was a closed case!!
I think the minister is right for example if you want to do ACCA, the grade 12 Zambian School Certificate is NOT sufficient for registration unless you go through foundation in accounting which is open to any one. Just check the ACCA web site and see for yourself.
Dude! It is never too late to get a grade 12 certificate. Just go to night school you, JBM and Kaingu. As we get closer to elections, we will know how many of these do not have a simple grade 12 certificate. It is very disappointing such statement coming from the Education Minister. He is supposed to encourage people to get education but alas.
But the starting point is G12 even if you do the foundation courses…..Exactly what we do at UNZA in the first year, we do the foundation courses for the degree programme. Your argument is weak bra. Sometime I tend to think that Bo Kaingu did not go up to G12 and his Degrees are coming from aptitude tests……By the way which University did Bo Kaingu go to???? We need to follow up some of these people calling other people goats………..students have small brains on a big body…..How?
ACCA is a professional qualification not academic
study the words MINIMUM and EQUIVALENT they are to this debate.
Please Hon. Kaingu and your PF Govt. spare us from your incompetence and inconsistencies, you had the whole time to study the draft Constitution before it was assented to by President Lungu…..why is the Grade Twelve (12) Qualification such a big issue now or does it mean you fellows in Cabinet together with your Attorney General didn’t see this clause, ”Bo Kaingu hamuna grade twelve Certificate nji?”
Kaingu was aware of this, and being a minister in-charge of higher education, he should have advised ECL before signing. This is what blind following can do. You voted for this bill in parliament, you went to clap for ECL as govt spent K4.8 million signing a document that was going to disadvantage half the cabinet. Were you not aware of it’s contents? This attitude explains why universities and colleges are in a mess. The man at the top is a highly confused polygamist
But how can you be invited to sit an aptitude test without pre-requisites.
Are these the Mpelembe chaps who got o the best school because the father was MD?
Sounds familiar some years back people were debating a leader’s form two or three certificate then there was a masters certificate produced instead. Food for thought
This is exactly why we need the Grade 12 qualification. Kaingu and his friends took the whole night in Parliament to go through the draft constitution, clause by clause and voted for their changes that they made…….why are you all now working up from your sleep to realize that you successfully defeated yourselvess……………It is not making sense and I support my president ECL on this one. Go for night school and upgrade your results. You had enough time to go through those clauses in the constitution. Which Secondary school did you go to Bo Kaingu so that we follow your G12 certificate.
Military courses offered by all security training institutions in Zambia must be considered as they are also colleges as well.Some citizens have acquired such courses so the ECZ must consider them too.
This clause has resulted in divergent interpretation thereby causing confusion and it is just wise to remove it.Even the legal team have failed to interpret it.MPs please wake up to remove the clause.
Zambians the knowledge required to help our poor people is that knowledge which brings poverty to an end,fight inequalities and understanding the effects of climate change.Academics wont finish poverty in zambia.This is a 21st century academics without practical work wont help zambia.The world has gone digital so we only need mind-transplant so that every citizen can switch to digital future.
Grade 12 is basic. Let those without grade 12 certificates go find OTHER jobs. There are many more OTHER jobs therefore it is not a problem.
Grade 12 just means you finished high school, which is the foundation for all further advanced training. Any education without the basic foundation is just a workaround excuse for those who cannot pass grade 12. If you did not get a formal grade 12 (did not finish high school) don’t apply for a government job. Create your own job using your newly acquired knowledge or skill. Basically when someone wants to be a goalkeeper in soccer but does not have the talent they go and find another position which fits their talent or another job. You cannot force people to change requirements for individuals.
Awe nshaumfwako we all went to university after form v Cambridge school certificate Some even used to rewrite ngabapona Kaingu are you another GBM?