THE Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education says it is compulsory for all Grade Nine pupils to write Information Communication and Technology (ICT) examinations although the subject will not be used for selection to Grade 10.

Permanent secretary Chishimba Nkosha said this is because not all schools have been supplied with computers.

He said had the ministry supplied computers to all schools, computer studies would have also been used for the selection to Grade 10.

Mr Nkosha said the theory part of computer studies examination will be 60 percent while the practical part of it will be 40 percent.

In an interview recently, Mr Nkosha said it was the ministry’s hope to supply computers to all schools before the introduction of computer studies.

“We have faced certain constraints, which have hindered us from supplying computers to all schools. Funding, long procurement procedures and legal battles have been some of the challenges we’ve been facing,” he said.

Mr Nkosha also said despite the limitations, the ministry found it fitting to introduce the subject.

He said the ideal situation is to ensure that pupils are given computers for their hands-on experience.

“If you are teaching pupils about an elephant, the ideal situation is to take them to a zoo or a game park where they can see the real object,” he said.

Mr Nkosha, however said, there are times in the classroom when teachers use simulations or pictures to teach some concepts.

He added that this is the same approach teachers have been using to teach computer studies in schools where there are no computers.

And Mr Nkosha said not all teachers are computer literate, adding that, however, school authorities have identified those that should undergo regular orientation.

He said during this year’s recruitment, teachers who are not computer literate and without teaching background will undergo teaching methodology courses offered by distance learning institutions.

Meanwhile, Mr Nkosha said the ministry has written to Zesco asking for permission to ensure there is no loadshedding when the practical computer exams are in progress.

This year’s Grade Nine pupils will be the first to write ICT examinations from the time the subject was introduced last year under the revised curriculum.

First Lady Esther Lungu has urged government to ensure that financial inclusion does not elude women and girls, who are the majority of Zambia’s population because this would be detrimental to the development of the country.

Mrs. Lungu says there is a strong consensus that increased levels of financial inclusion for women, contributes significantly to sustainable economic and social growth.

Speaking at the ceremony Mrs Lungu who was the Guest Speaker for the ‘W’ initiative launch commended Access Bank for the revolutionary idea in deepening inclusive banking in the country to reach many unbanked markets and called for a strong partnership between banks and the Government in deepening investment facilitation in the country.

Mrs Lungu noted that if women are economically empowered they will ensure that their families get the best health care services, and provide the best nutrition possible and will be able to send their children to school.

The women banking initiative known as the ‘W’ is designed to inspire, connect and empower women across Zambia, while catering for their financial and lifestyle needs at various stages in their life.

Mrs, Lungu says women have continued to face numerous challenges in uplifting their standards of living and lack of exposure to financial systems that will support their various lifestyle needs.

She says one of the biggest challenges is the failure to access banking services due to cumbersome account opening processes, high interest rate charges on credit facilities, high monthly ledger fees on their accounts, and high collateral requirements for credit facilities, among others.

Mrs Lungu noted that this has proved to be a great obstacle for women who desire to grow their businesses, invest in education for themselves and their families, acquire assets or indeed participate in the economic landscape of our country.

She says the need to offer women the financial services that they require, both in the formal and informal sectors cannot be overemphasized.

Mrs. Lungu expressed hope that Access Bank Limited will set the pace for other players in the industry to take deliberate steps to focus on women.

She has since commended Access Bank Limited for supplementing government’s effort in its endeavor to uplift the standards of women countrywide.

And women Managing Director of Access Bank Belo Jones says women banking initiative known as the ‘W’is designed to inspire, connect and empower women across Ghana, while catering for their financial and lifestyle needs at various stages in their life.

Mrs. Jones says ‘W’ initiative is part of the Bank’s overall financial inclusion strategy seeks to make specialized banking services available to women by promoting gender equality and ensuring their social and economic welfare.

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have signed contracts that will see the development of the Mineral Value Chain Monitoring Framework.

The signing of the contracts marks the second stage in the implementation of the Mineral Value Chain Monitoring Project (MVCMP) that the Government through ZRA has embarked on, after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding among the Government implementing agencies.

And Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba who graced the signing ceremony that took place in Lusaka has observed that implementation of the Project will ultimately enhance revenue contribution from the mining sector to the Treasury.

Mr. Yamba says government will continue to implement appropriate measures aimed at ensuring that the Zambian people receive a fair and sustainable share of the proceeds from their country’s natural resources.

He states that it is government’s continued commitment to undertake this aspiration in a win-win sustainable, transparent and accountable manner for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Speaking at the same event United Nations Resident Coordinator Janet Rogan who spoke on behalf of UNCTAD said the MVCMP was expected to enhance capacity to appreciate and explain significant growth in mining activity and consequently in mineral royalty revenue collection and would improve the Government’s capacity to identify challenges along the Mineral Value Chain, resulting in inefficiencies in the monitoring of mining activities.

Ms. Rogan has expressed sadness that despite the mining sector being the mainstay of the Zambia’s economy it is only generating around 2% of employment.

And ZRA Commissioner General Berlin Msiska has urged all stakeholders to take the System which is Web based as their own product and recognize that it would only be as good as the input they collectively provide towards its attainment of the set objectives.

Meanwhile Norwegian Ambassador to Zambia Arve Ofstad says he has been observing the continuous distrust existing in Zambia within the mining sector, between the mining companies, parts of the Government, various political actors, the media and the civil society, even the academicians.

This is contained in a statement released to Qfm News today by the ZRA corporate communications unit.

The Government of Finland says it attaches great importance to supporting agriculture development in Zambia.

Speaking at the Namwala District Farmers Association Annual General Meetung (AGM) held at Brichi motel yesterday, District Finnish Representative Nachile Kaila said that the support is aimed at improving productivity of small scale farmers and food security among others.

Ms Kaila said it was for this reason that the support to the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) is one of the ways to achieve the objective to support farming by the Finnish government.

Ms Kaila said that she was impressed with the Namwala District Farmers Association report but added that a lot needs to be done to increase membership.

And speaking at the same function, Namwala District Commissioner Mary Sakala said government is committed to promoting livestock farming in the district hence construction and rehabilitation of dip tanks to improve veterinary services.

Ms Sakala further said that there is need for the National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) to include diary animals on Bunjimi asset plus financing.

She also financing should be extended to include goat and cattle beef acquisition especially for Kaabwe, Muchila and Mbeza farmers as this will help almost all the farmers to participate in the ZNFU programs.

The Namwala District Commissioner has called on stakeholders involved in selling and clearing cattle to revise the current exorbitant charge on cattle during clearing and verifications.

Ms Sakala has called on traditional leaders to make sure that no headman is exploiting on charges of verifications .

There has been an out-cry recently by cattle farmers that they are being exploited by headmen , Councils, and the Zambia Police in the verification charges and clearing of cattle.

And Chief mukobela of the Ila people of Namwala has appealed to headmen not to be charging K20 per head of cattle but instead the same amount per verification of about one to 30 herds of cattle.

Chief Mukobela said that what should be charged should be per verification not per head of cattle which will be affordable and reasonable to the cattle farmers.

Meanwhile, Namwala acting District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO) Martin Skainga has appealed to farmers to consider farming as a business venture for it to develop in the district.

He said that when farming is taken as business venture it will provide jobs and the much needed nutrition for the villagers.

Mr Skainga said that government wants to partner with the ZNFU to promote services such as lima credit and the asset plus schemes.