Women for Change raises concern over poor exam results
Organization Executive Director Emily Sikazwe says the country also needs to find a mechanism of capturing children who fail examinations and have no capacity to continue with their education.
Ms. Sikazwe says her organization is ready and willing to sit down with the ministry of Education to see how best the situation can be resolved.
Speaking to QFM NEWS, Ms. Sikazwe notes that the pass rate in last year’s grade Twelve examinations is very poor.
Education Minister John Phiri last week announced that over 60 thousand out of over 103 candidates that sat for the grade 12 examinations obtained full school certificates, of which 41 thousand are males and 19 thousand are females.
Ms. Sikazwe states that there is need to establish what could be the possible causes for such poor performance by females.
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49 Responses to Women for Change raises concern over poor exam results
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am really disappointed with the grade 12 results,teachers are so reluctant and they don’t even care about their pupils’ performance as long as they get their pay at month end then life goes on for them. please inspectors can you do your job, can you make sure that non performing teachers are fired and employ active ones.
chileshe - February 20, 2013
10:10
Too much u donchi kubeba girls of nowadays? uchende too much at early years how can they study?
malinso - February 19, 2013
20:34
They fail because of poor administrators.In some rural high schools the situation is chaotic.At Sioma high sch the head teacher is allowing pupils to be pregnanted by teachers and married off immediately they write the final examinations.3 pupils as im writing now are married.so this makes the girl child to be only interested in marriage.please ngo help the girls at this school. One of the pupils married off was a camfed sponsored.She spent time servicing the teacher rather than studying.The results are out now and she only managed to get a Gce certificate.pliz ngo help the girls.
mwamba - February 19, 2013
16:56
I KNOW ONE YOUNG MAN WHO DOES NOT KNOW THAT 3 X 4 =12 AND YET HE PASSED GRADE 9 LAST EXAM WITH WHAT I SUSPECT WAS A LEAKAGE.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO PASS GRADE 12 WITHOUT A LEAKAGE?
$ - February 19, 2013
16:32
Julius Mwalimu Nyerere attempted to ‘swahilirize’ all education in Tanzania in the 70s and 80s.He even translated Shakespeare into Swahili and even Chemistry and Physics was taught in Swahili. Good move, very good! But it had its own share of negative consequences. By the time the Tanzanians realized, they had effectively “excommunicated” themselves from the rest of the world. I know people will argue, what about Chinese, Russian etc. Be realistic folks, these languages come along with a culture of invention, commerce and strong trade. So they have a strong mark on the world level. Obviously I respect that teaching vernacular goes along with culture pride and identity. My point is English doesent belong to the English anymore,it belongs to business and communication. Those that day dream that their native languages will gain international recognition,are doing something they are good at; Dreaming! Learn from the Tanzanian experience! I’m just saying!
MATRIX - February 19, 2013
15:16
As a matter of fact even the Chinese have an ambitious English program for their education system.
mulondwe muzungu - February 19, 2013
16:24
its just everything going wrong since frank bwalya killed that chicken in red garments and pf ascending to power..nothing will ever be ok..
blacky - February 19, 2013
15:06
I want to speak from a point of view of being a teacher. I have a number of points to highlight:-
1. Teachers – it is true that some teachers may not be doing the right. I have seen that some teachers concentrate on personal businesses than teaching esp. those in towns. But all this happen for certain reasons such as lack of motivation, lack of supervion and monitoring, frustrations and enemity with administrators etc. I want to urge the ministry to frequent schools for monitoring. Let them also start motivating teachers in certain ways.
PUPILS – the pupil of today is destroyed from a very tender age, especially those in town, you find a pupil who is in grade 3 is walking to school with a phone. Seriously what do you expect such a pupil to grow into? You find a request on Facebook, check on the age, the child is 10 years old, IMAGINE THAT! So, technology is also a contributing factor, though it be good if used for the right purposes. In secondary schools children are seen spending most of their time on social networks such FB, Twitter, hi5, mig33 etc. instead of spending their precious time on books.
LEAKAGES – The failure of ECZ to control the flow of leakages, especially real in the past years has made children to get relaxed with studying, since they always expect to get a real leakage when its Exam time. Hence they tend to fail when there are no real leakages in that year.
ENVIRONMENT AND LACK OF TEACHING RESOURCES – Us who teach in rural areas really have bigger problems. Children lack exposure, most of them have never seen things such as trains, tarred roads, big buses, DSTV, banks, atm machines, upstair buildings, central pivots and many more. Teaching of those things sounds like myths and lies. Lack of laboratories in Basic schools. I personally teach sciences and i have found it difficut to teach without a lab, chemicals, apparatus etc. Imagine, telling a child that “carbon dioxide turns lime water milky” just orally, its like as if you are just lying.
The above reasons and many others put together, contribute to the poor results perpetuating this country.
Lastly but not least, the average Zambian child of today shows less enthusiasm to learn and to education compared to the 90s.
Divmeister! - February 19, 2013
14:51
As a teacher you have not talked of the fact most teachers do not know how to teach. The universities and teacher training colleges do not adequately teach like yesteryear. What we have seen is that trainee teachers do lots of complex course content than they need to teach grade 8 and 12. In fact most teachers are away from teaching because they are busy studying by distance (a good thing but must be well planned) The days when we had few diploma and degree holders as teachers – certificate holders taught very well. What has happen? The teacher who taught me English in Lundazi was a primary school certificate holder but we did so well at Cambridge exams. So what has gone wrong when UNZA and all sort of universities which are churning out graduates? Someone should look at what the graduates are being taught.
Aale - February 19, 2013
16:16
the gal child you mentioned actually has been spoiled by some these so NGOs. How do allow or should i legalese sex and say after getting pregnant,just deliver and go back to school. Don’t blame teachers who have also benefited from this kind of sex,they are human and with feelings like that old tractor driver. Being a teacher does not make somebody LESS of man.Teachers just don’t defile them but if the gal is old enough,you can Negotiate.
FODESANKO - February 19, 2013
20:50
The learners are the cause to this failure. You can take a horse to the river but u cant force it to drink water. The learners have no respect for their poor teachers. A teacher can be teaching and the learners are busy chattin or writin love letters and giving their teachers nick names. How do u expect them to pass.
Mwape - February 19, 2013
13:32
The route-causes are well known madam,unless you do not stay in Zambia.
Humprey - February 19, 2013
13:30
Bring back the likes of Jelita and Mulenga, Readers book 3 upwards and can you remembers. Changes made to lower primary school sylambus is really doing harm to kids. English is a foreign language therefore its only good to start with the basics some of us started with in the 70s and 80s. I have a duaghter who is in grade 3. The stuff they are learning is too advanced for kids in such grades. Grade 3 kids need to learn how to read and write simple english words and sentences. Kids just speak chizungu but cant read and write properly.
Twambo - February 19, 2013
12:01
If you put fine, clean maize grains in a hammer mill and the mill fails to grind properly, the result will be poor mealie meal!
You can push a pupil physically and not mentally!
lazy chaps deserve the poor results!
Mukupu - February 19, 2013
11:31
Teachers are concentrating more on offering extra lessons…those pupils who cant afforde extra lessons are disadvantged…Pliz teachers give your level best to yo pupils..
muchi - February 19, 2013
11:11
NOTED THAT WE HAVE POOR RESULT, PUPILS WHO FAILED HAVE NO CHANCE TO ENTER FOR GCE . ALL THE CENTERS THEY ARE CLOSED. I WISH ECZ COULD CONSIDER TO EXTEND SO THAT THOSE WHO FAILED CAN ENTER FOR 2013 EXAMS.MY REGARDS.
MOSES EVARISTO - February 19, 2013
11:08
Without education there is no development. As simple as that.
ppm - February 19, 2013
11:08
If only the inspectors can be coming to inspect teachers during working hrs it can work. But they like inspecting during exams that doesn’t work coz same headteachers can’t monitor their teachers they report for work when they are drunk.and they are busy claiming for more money
Laka - February 19, 2013
11:05
I KEEP SOME SCHOOL GOING CHAPS AT HOME. IF I DON’T FIND THEM ON FACE BOOK CHATTING WITH THEIR FRIENDS I DEFINATELY KNOW WHERE TO FIND THEM. THEY WILL BE IN THE SIITING ROOM CHANGING CHANNELS ON THE DSTV. AND YOU EXPECT GOOD RESULTS FROM CHAPS LIKE THESE. WHEN I WAS AT SCHOOL IN THOSE DAYS THERE WAS NO FACE BOOK, NO TWITTER, NO DSTV, NO CELL PHONES AND WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME ON BOOKS. AND WE GOT GOOD RESULTS.
TULANDAFYE ICHISHINKA BANE - February 19, 2013
10:59
Emily Sikazwe has a valid point’at least she is trying to make a difference and is willing to give suggestions on issue.
The issue about teachers being lazy is vaild and could be the route cause of the problem..if my teacher is bloody lazy why would i bother if I was a student?
Sandra Leribaux - February 19, 2013
10:52
I think the cause of the poor results can be attributed to various factors. Firstly, I think there is poor work ethic on both the teachers’ and pupils’ part. Secondly, in most rural areas, and even in disadvantaged communities of urban areas, pupils are not helped by their environment where virtually 24/7, with the exception of time in class, they are speaking a language that they will not be examined in. I recently moved to a rural area, and I’ve met grade 12s that practically can’t speak English,yet its the language they’ve been supposedly learning in. I think many of them simply do not understand the language they are writing exams in, so how can they comprehend exam questions?! Thirdly, is cultural legacy- if a mother sells tomatoes on the street, seldom will her vision be long enough to dream of her child being a Chartered Accountant one day, and the child unfortunately will be groomed in that limited environment with little value for a formal education, and this will reflect in the exam room. These and other reasons could explain the poor G12 results that we are witnessing.
Advanced 1 - February 19, 2013
10:38
Married women too lazy to support girl child in school chores other than overloading them with household works.
Bwalyanga - February 19, 2013
10:22
Emily for Life? How does this CSO provide credible advocacy for true democracy? Go ahead, tear me to pieces.
PRAISE GOD - February 19, 2013
09:47
too much facebook bafana!
mkar - February 19, 2013
09:22
This woman has been at the helm of this organisation for than 15years….i guess she must have gotten tired doing the same things at women for Change… Is this organisation her personal company or what..Cant she try other things…it doest make sense Emely for one to be ceo for an organisation like yours for than 15years, because you lose steam and become irrelevant to the whole set up.. Can someone please communicate this to Emely.. when will young ones take up such roles when people like her want to cling on to positions…Even our politicians get a fresh mandate from the electrorate.
chills - February 19, 2013
09:17
After rebasing, I have only saved 15yrs/1000 which is negligible. Hence the need to continue. Aluta, continua!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Emmely Nakazwe - February 19, 2013
10:05
Where were these toothless characters all along?Don’t they see wrongs being orchestrated through wrong governance.Shameless disillusioned women indeed.Go back to your kitchens and prepare your unpalatable weeds.
Advocate - February 19, 2013
09:02
Zambian high school teachers don’t teach. I was at kaloma high school we never finished
our texts almost in every subject. Headmasters should make sure teachers go to class everyday.
paddy - February 19, 2013
08:56
Teacher were busy campaigning….”Donchi Kubeba”
Oprah - February 19, 2013
10:09
No bumper harvest,poor grade 12 results,high meali meal prices,shortage of fuel,road accidents,shortage of meali meal,un necessary by elections.These are the things i can see after being promised more money in my pocket,more jobs in 90 days,they deceived me and i no longer trust them.
hillz. - February 19, 2013
08:47
There are also too many private schools which use highly unqualifed teachers. As such these teachers have no coaching and mentoring skills which result in them using gorilla tactics to teach. What does this result in??? The young ones being groomed looking at school as a war ground and developing hate for it from the word go. Come grade seven, fail, come grade nine fail and even give up. Government or Emily Shikazwe do something where the hell are inspectors. Let them visit schools and check credentials of teachers. There was a private school where the sweeper/Gardener use to teach as well. Does that make sense.
Form four - February 19, 2013
08:46
Yes
zAmbiance - February 19, 2013
08:44
Increase teacher salaries by 100% and reverse those of MPs and President since they already are above the poverty datum line. Problem solved.
But then again, why would you want those that voted you in power to be literate through a sound education system and happy teachers who are well paid? REMEMBER they educate the future of zambia.
Silly me, i forgot you send your children to capetown university and overseas schools so they can come back and pry their greedy paws on the less fortunate teachers children.
Thats a vicious cycle
Christian - February 19, 2013
08:44
teachers are demotivated maybe health workers who are the darlings of PF Govt can teach our children very well bcoz they are far better paid than teachers.Try medical staff,they can do it better than teachers
Hypocrisy Patrick - February 19, 2013
10:58
Demotivation is the route cause.Teachers. are not apprecatiated and don’t see any value in what they do.Imagine uneducatsed simpleton being a peddler of lies. makes it in life than a teacher,what do you expect.
Advocate - February 19, 2013
08:41
motivate teachers well.reintroduce retention and recruitment allowance.
kandolo - February 19, 2013
08:39
TEACHERS are among the most rewarded among civil servants in terms of allowances. They campaigned for Ukwa in biss numbers and here they are today saying what?
Oprah - February 19, 2013
08:43
Not true. What do they take home at the end of the day? Our teachers need much more to be motivated. I am what I am today because of that teacher without whom I would have been wallowing in poverty. I have met men teachers who are really in bad shape because these politicians do not care. Else where teachers are greatly respected.
JD - February 19, 2013
11:07
I still believe this extra lesson issue has contributed a lot as many pupils who dont have the capacity to attend due to money issues miss out.In classes teachers have stoped concetrating to teach and thats just a stuborn fact.Let there be a well regulated system to compel teachers to give 100% attention to class work and not extra lessons.Let not the many pupils who dont attend extra lessons suffer because a teacher will want to have more pupils for extra lessons for him/her to make more money.
Amuchi - February 19, 2013
08:34
To wholesomely condemn PF might not be the best thing. The problem is that today we politicise everything. When Zambia wins AFCON, we want to attribute it to a party. When they lose, the party isn’t to blame. We are talking about a generational crisis here. Teachers getting demotivated could just be one of the many challenges. Low salaries resulting into teachers failing to get decent phones that can allow them access the internet and share with the general public might alse be correct.
bk - February 19, 2013
08:29
they failed because there was no leakage
Ngalande Lukuku - February 19, 2013
08:20
YES MY MAN
maguys - February 19, 2013
08:23
Are u implying that women/girls only pass when there is a leakage???
Mwila - February 19, 2013
08:34
yes most girls are lazy and want everything on the silver plate. No leakage means failing for girls. at least they were saved from being used as sex objects.
mwanamwene - February 19, 2013
08:42
well now that they are on the street, what does that spell?
Oprah - February 19, 2013
08:45
You started your sentence well by saying “most” girls then you later generalize by saying “no leakage no passing for girls”…it is just a few girls that have chosen to be vulnerable whilst there are a lot of girls out there of high caliber that can compete with men…and achieve better results…what is important is dedication and clearly understanding your personal vision…here on earth…!! May be they need better teaching and mentoring…!!
Mwila - February 19, 2013
09:31
You must be a lawyer mum
rb - February 19, 2013
14:23
we told you people that pf does not know the importance of education, what do you expect when pf govt have removed rention allowance, the teachers who teach senior classes are graduates but they have been denied the rention allowance hence they are demotivated.
bashi dr economist - February 19, 2013
08:17
If importance of education means leakeges then you are correct. otherwise, the PF should continue working had to stop leakeges that were common place in the past.
Madaliso - February 19, 2013
10:13