By Chinoyi Chipulu
Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima says those saying there are no text books following the introduction of the new curriculum in schools should go and read the Bible.
And Syakalima said teachers did not need text books to teach about values in schools.
Syakalima said this when he was checking on various schools in Lusaka on the commencement in the rollout of the new curriculum for Early Childhood Education (ECE), Grade One and Form One classes.
“I heard someone saying there are no textbooks, do you need a text book in order to teach about emotions? Do you need a text book to teach about values? So if people want textbooks, I will refer them to go and read the Bible,” he said.
Syakalima said the critics of the new curriculum that had been rolled out in schools were being unfair.
“Just out of what you have explained, I realise the critics of the new curriculum are not being fair. Do you need to go for e-training? You are already doing these things,” he said.
The minister however, commended the teachers for working hard and making sure the kids were in good environments.
“You are doing a tremendous job, we want to encourage you to continue working hard because this is where we get surgeons, engineers,” he said.
There have been concerns by various stakeholders on the government’s failure to provide learning materials for the new curriculum in school despite it being rolled out.
National for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQUEZ) executive director Aaron Chansa said It was from textbooks where teachers schemed their work for a term.
He stated that the past one week had been one of the most agonising period for most schools and most teachers in Zambia, because for the first time, a new education curriculum would be implemented without corresponding text books and hardcopies of syllabi.
“In the last 7 days, I have received more than 1500 messages, mostly from head teachers and teachers. More than 99% of these people are saying that they have not yet received new teaching and learning materials. For the teachers, they are indicating inadequacy to effectively implement the new curriculum,” he stated.
Dr Chansa stated that when the implementers were not well prepared and not ready, people should fear for the worst.
“But I have also received messages from some teachers saying, ‘let us implement this good curriculum even if the materials are not yet in schools.” I find this reasoning very dangerous and unpatriotic. How on earth would the entire nation start implementing a new curriculum without text books, for example? What has led to the failure to produce these important materials,” said Syakalima. “Why must a country be proud to repeat the same mistakes made in the past but expect good results? Why are some people rushing this process when it is plainly clear that not all is well? These are questions which every citizen must be able to objectively answer.”
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