THE Zambia Union of Teachers (ZNUT) says the introduction of
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) subject in primary
schools is a source of worry for rural pupils who do not have access to
computers.
The Ministry of Education has made it compulsory for pupils in primary
schools to learn ICT although the move is not supported by adequate
facilities.
Apart from a lack of computers and electricity, many teachers in rural
schools are said to be so incompetent that they would need lessons
before teaching their classes.
ZNUT general secretary Newman Bubala told the Sunday Times in an
interview that some pupils in rural areas would be forced to learn theory
while those in urban areas would have an opportunity to learn both
theory and do practicals.
Ultimately, the divide could be a big disadvantage to the pupils in rural
schools.
“We are all talking about ICT, but pupils are learning theory. By the
time they will come to have their laptops, it will be something else,” Mr
Bubala said.
He said the Government should think of investing in rural schools so
that each student could have a laptop.
“The Government should seriously think of investing in, and making
sure that we flood the country with what we are saying, otherwise it will
be difficult to implement the policy for rural schools,” Mr Bubala said.
Mr Bubala said that ICT lessons would not be a success unless there was
electricity and computers were made available in all rural schools.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Education spokesperson Hillary Chipango said
the ministry was aware of the problems that pupils in rural areas were
facing in the implementation of the new policy.
Mr Chipango said the ministry was working hand-in-hand with the
Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to ensure that all the schools in
rural areas were electrified.
He said that pupils in areas where there was no electricity would be
learning theory for some time until their schools were connected to the
power grid.
Mr Chipango said the ministry was aware that the subject was new and
pupils would be writing exams in the subject for the first time.
He said some teachers were also undergoing retraining so that they
could be able to teach both practical and theory, while other teachers
were yet to be employed. LT
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