I don’t know, sometimes I wake up and hear the kids in school next door repeatedly chanting the alphabet. I hear the teachers give instructions and occasionally I hear the noise maker. This constant repetition begins our early introduction to the structure of school. From K through to 12 a Zombie flick of going to class, following instructions and graduation. All with the hope of a brighter future.
Its laughingly said the Zambian dream is to get a degree and job, buy a Japanese motor, and have a house. Nalu knew what she was talking when she famously sang, “House, Money, Car” for a reason. I called the education system trash on a phone call early Tuesday morning. I don’t mean to be rude but for every good thing we teach the share of the pie is larger on what it is not taught. This can’t be in relation to all Zambian schools but if we use public schools as the criteria then my problem becomes more transparent I hope.
We teach great things I wont lie, somethings are too smart for my IQ. Yet we dont teach how the Zambian tax system works. But we are expected to pay tax, it’s like the system is intentionally trying to trip people up with tax evasion. Honestly not trying to avoid tax would have simply been easier to teach than simultaneous equations. I could have really avoided jail time, not that I’ve been arrested. The importance of equations can not be understated however I feel our magnitude of focus is constantly on the wrong things.
Education curriculums that still resemble what was taught 50 years ago. An inclination to more foreign history that we renamed our thunderously smoking falls to the “Victoria falls”. I honestly don’t know, our priorities seem entirely misplaced, our focus or lack of, is crazy.
What’s worse we have elections in 2021 and everyone is fighting for development. “We shall develop” or “development is coming if you…” how will this development come without a serious emphasis on an education system that actually works? Like yes, teach the science and teach the creatives. Like yes empower people adequately even on an extremely minimal budget. Because lack of funds isn’t always the best excuse. But for heavens sake ensure education actually is the best mode of becoming successful.
Currently we have a nation that can read and write as in they can read what’s in front if them but might not bother analysing (might not even know how). Writing is just another fancy short hand version of photocopy. Reading is about more than fluency and articulation, its about understanding and analysing. It’s about taking a step back and seeing clearly what lay before you. Once you’ve analyzed you need to create a strategy, this is why we write. To create. I’ve currently only done pseudo research but it seems to me if we were only taught how to read and write properly, most of us would be better off.
I cant say with 100% certainty that we would generally be better as I don’t know, but with those two skills places grand responsibility and awareness on anyone. Because the goal isn’t to “win” education isn’t about being number 1 it’s about training people to build their seat at the table from a young age.
The young will take over and begin to lead, oh what a tiresome path they are forced to navigate. 12 +years of zombie walking because you need to receive a piece of paper which should give you a chance in society, only to find that piece of paper isn’t really considered highly and now you need a few more courses just for control.
I don’t know, so many broken pieces, too big a conversation to dissect in one sitting. I’m free to go into a specific area of thought if you have a thought there. But most of the school should be torn down and rebuilt from scratch. Teachers are under paid and someone once made the argument that they are underpaid because they are under qualified for the position. Turns out some of the best schools in the world require their K -12 teachers to have a masters degree. Yeah and they get paid decently, I guess the world is still figuring out how important teachers are worth but not soooooo much.
There is a lot going wrong and most of it I believe isn’t a school issue it’s a home issue. Too many parents are letting their kids be raised by the school system that honestly even the teachers are overwhelmed. The kids are their responsibility until they need to get punished then its, “How dare you?” Or my favourite, “is this your child?” So maybe we need to start from the home set up and decide what do we actually want then see if the school aligns with that.
But yeah the school system isn’t trash it just needs some dusting, polishing and maybe a wash once in a while. It’s not an easy walk but I believe it’s a necessary course and I don’t have any or even most of the answers I just know what we are doing right now isn’t making sense and watching it, waiting for it to fix itself just ain’t happening. This post ain’t changing that either but I’m hoping one of you has the right societal power and that you might start asking within yourself, what exactly is wrong and how can we start changing the narrative?
Maybe we can start a different more empowering conversation and actually start plotting a course for true widespread economic growth and development.
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