First reflections on education in Zambia

      05 October 2009
      Written by Sonja Spierings

      I never realised how easy my life was when I was a young girl going to school. I remember disliking some classes (especially German class) and some of the teachers, but I never had to question the value of the classes, the suitability of the materials and the qualifications of my teachers. My main concerns during these school years were homework, after-school activities and which clothes to wear.

      Two weeks ago I started to work as an intern at WFP Zambia in the Education Programme Unit and already I have had to reconsider everything I have always taken for granted. The problems and struggles met by the education sector in Zambia are overwhelming, even though I have just seen a small part of them.
       
      Poverty and illness are the main contributors to non-attendance at school. But these two words involve more than I ever realised.
      Take, for example, a girl whose family has no money to pay for her school fees. Instead of going to school, she has to help her family to raise money for food: ‘the meal of the day takes priority over the education for the future’. Child labour comes in numerous forms and ways and unfortunately includes criminal activities and even prostitution.
      The daily life of this girl has a devastating impact not only on her health, but also on her psychological well-being. This girl most likely daily questions the meaning of her life and wonders if she is simply not worthy enough to be educated.
       
      Now let's consider a girl who is lucky enough to attend school. This girl also has a lot of challanges to face every day. The ability of this girl to focus on her lessons is likely to be weakened because of poor nutrition. She can also be tired of the long and dangerous walk to school or because of the restless nights she had sleeping on a mat on the floor together with her brothers and sisters. This girl may fall behind in class, because she is not able to do her homework due to al the chores she does at home. Or maybe her family sends her to school at a later age and she is bullied for being in a class with children 4 years her junior.
       
      The high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in this country also contributes to the many challenges in education. Let’s consider the case of a young and ambitious teacher, who got infected with HIV. Without proper treatment she can soon get too ill to work and eventually even die. This, in turn, increases the already critical need for qualified teachers. And maybe, this teacher has a young daughter who now has to drop out of school in order to take care of her younger siblings.  
       
      I wished this was a story of one day of the life of these girls, but unfortunately this is the story of every day of their life. And although I am already long over the recommended number of words for a blog, I have the feeling that I have not even started to list the many challenges children in Zambia are facing. 
      In the coming months, I will continue to learn the ins and outs of the educational sector in Zambia and the answers that WFP tries to provide for the challenges.
      Gallery: 

      Comments

      Submitted by Marlies on 09 October 2009
      Hey Sonja! Nice to read something from Zambia! Impressive to read it. Good to hear more from you today on the phone!

      Submitted by Mariette Verhoef on 13 October 2009
      Hello Sonja, I just discovered this blog site of WFP. So good to read these stories. I've been teaching in Ghana almost a year ago and I saw the same problems. Many times the children are too hungry to follow up and participate in class. The effort of TNT and WFP, and the work you are doing in Zambia, have a lot of value! Good luck! Greetings, Mariette Verhoef

      Submitted by Ferdi Bredewoud on 13 October 2009
      Hey Sonja, Nicely written blog on your first two weeks in Zambia! Being surrounded by Moving the World people (and their stories) has already changed my views when it comes to our 'concerns' in regard to other peoples (real) concerns across the globe. Looking forward to your next blogs, keep it up!

      Submitted by Jenny on 19 August 2010
      Education definitely is an equal right of every individual on this earth. No one should be denied education and people who are educated should help other uneducated communities so that our world collectively can become an educated society. <a href="http://www.essaykingdom.co.uk/film-review.html">custom film review</a>

      Submitted by Hala on 06 September 2010
      Education is an element very important for every individual to receive. It is their rightful right to obtain it anyhow. People who are educated should promote education and should be able to spread awareness and education amongst its fellow mankind. <a href="http://www.essaykingdom.co.uk/admissions-essay.html">custom admission essay</a>

      Submitted by Anonymous on 08 November 2010
      There are developing countries like Zambia where education is not something everyone can afford it, great to hear that in Zambia good changes happen... Dave from <a href="http://how-to-last-longer-in-bed.info/">How to last longer in bed</a> Website.

      Submitted by Aaron D on 08 November 2010
      Education's basic problems are pretty the same in Zambia as anywhere else; the under qualified teachers and the lack of money. <a href="http://biznik.com/members/aaron-delsignore/posts">Aaron DelSignore</a>

      Submitted by jackdorson116 on 12 December 2010
      Well I don’t have much knowledge on this but it’s all depending individually. What I think personally is not matters for others, and if I have a solution for everyone than only its okay. Although really nice information, thanks. <a href="http://cremationjewelry.com/">Cremation Jewelry</a>

      Submitted by Sammy on 23 December 2010
      I had the pleasure of working with a couple of students at Anderson University who were working on building a non-profit to fund an orphanage in Zambia called Mulunda Miaka. The idea of the orphanage is to become a self-sustaining compound selling chickens and vegetables and using solar panels to feed the local electric grid. It was so awesome to see the excitement of the students as they worked to raise money. They were able to raise enough money to buy the orphanage the solar panels they needed and are planning on delivering them this spring. Check out the website below and see what else is being done in the region. http://www.mmorphanage.org/ Thanks Sonja!

      Submitted by Dr Suzanne Gudakunst on 23 March 2011
      Education is the best part of the human's life but we also never realize that life is so easy at the time of school going, but he people of Zambia are still living under the poverty line of education it's a better work while organize some education Programme the people pf Zambia, I think this is the only way to help the people of Zambia to be literate.

      Submitted by Notice to Vacate on 19 April 2011
      Education is the only way to achieve your goal ,But there are so many illiterate or uneducated people belonging our community also.so focusing on this type of issues are really inspired and encouraged all educated people to do any help for these uneducated people toward their education.

      Submitted by sanni on 09 December 2011
      The lifestyle of this young lady has a harmful affect not only on her wellness, but also on her mental well-being. This young lady most likely day-to-day concerns the significance of her daily life and magic if she is basically not suitable enough to be knowledgeable. <a href="http://www.memoryfoammattress2u.com/memory-foam-mattress-toppers">foam mattress topper</a>

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