By MATTHEWS MUSUKWA –
AFTER 53 years of independence, Zambia is still grappling with high illiteracy levels.
Approximately 3.75 million Zambians are still unable to read and write.
The Ministry of General Education recently announced that 26 per cent of Zambians are illiterate, which means that over three million people, out of the country’s population of over 15 million, are unable to read and write.
According to a survey conducted by Room to Read Zambia, 68 per cent of Zambians live in poverty, a situation which has had a tremendous negative impact on education as it hinders people from easily accessing education because the cost is sometimes more than what a family can afford, especially in rural areas.
Even with the introduction of free education from Grade One to Seven in all Government schools, some people have not had an opportunity to attend school because of various reasons associated with social and cultural backgrounds.
For instance, in some parts of Zambia, children abandon school in preference to go fishing or catching caterpillars so that they can earn some income for their families while in some parts of the country, cultural practices keep girls out of school so that they can attend to initiation ceremonies when they come of age.
However, the consequences of illiteracy are harmful in several respects and they affect illiterate individuals in their daily lives and often jeopardize their future.
Illiteracy also has a significant effect on society, both socially and economically, because it limits an individual’s ability to obtain and understand essential information.
Illiteracy is a major cause of the country’s high unemployment levels.
Even when an illiterate individual miraculously manages to get a job, they are likely to earn lower income as they can only afford to get lower quality jobs.
Government has been putting intervention measures in place to ensure that high illiteracy levels in the country are reduced.
One of the measures Government has put in place is the implementation of a nationwide Primary Reading Program for pupils.
The programme is meant to combat the high illiteracy rates.
The Government is also supporting extensive training for teachers at primary school level as a preventive measure to avoid illiteracy.
Furthermore, the Government has also partnered with various stakeholders in establishing literacy classes with the view of helping citizens who have passed the age of enrolment in primary schools so that they learn to read and write.
In North Western Province, Chief Mumena has come out as a champion of literacy classes for elderly people in his chiefdom.
The traditional leader, whose mother is a beneficiary of the literacy educational programme, has partnered with mining companies such as Kalumbila and Barrick Lumwana in opening literacy classes in various schools around his chiefdom.
Speaking at the commemoration of the International Literacy Day recently, the traditional leader said his mother is now able to read and write in English and in the local language.
He said his mother is now able to communicate with him and his grandchildren on phone through the Short Messaging System (SMS) after she attended literacy classes, which was not the case previously.
The traditional leader has since enrolled most of his village headmen who could not read and write, so that they too could also acquire the much needed knowledge.
Another resident of Kalumbila District, Anna Chibeta, 49, said she grew up from a poor family and had no opportunity to attend formal education.
However, Ms Chibeta said she had learnt how to read and write from the literacy classes introduced by Kalumbila Mine.
Ms Chibeta said after attending literacy classes, she is now able to read the Bible which she demonstrated during the literacy day celebrations at Chief Mumena’s ceremonial grounds in Kalumbila.
Seeing Ms Chibeta read the holy Bible in front of fellow villagers, one could see the joy in her eyes as if she had won a multi-million Kwacha prize.
Ms Chibeta and many others who recently enrolled for literacy classes demonstrated their reading skills before the crowd which gathered to witness the change the literacy classes have brought in lives of the people of Kalumbila.
Recently, Zambia joined other countries in the UNESCO family in commemorating International Literacy Day.
This year’s national commemoration, which was dubbed ‘Literacy in a Digital World,’ was held in Kalumbila District in North Western Province.
Government, through North Western Province Minister Richard Kapita, announced that in response to literacy for a digital world, the Ministry of General Education, in collaboration with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, is training teachers for adult literacy in ICT in Southern and Lusaka provinces.
Mr Kapita, however, said there was need for concerted efforts from stakeholders to address high illiteracy levels in the country as Government alone cannot manage to undertake the task.
Mr Kapita disclosed that in order to ensure that digital literacy succeeds, the Ministry of General Education is gradually incorporating methodologies and strategies that will enhance skills for learners and teachers in a digital world.
Zambia National Commission for UNESCO Secretary General Charles Ndakala disclosed that about 750 million people worldwide are illiterate.
Dr Ndakala said programs aimed at reducing literacy levels worldwide should be encouraged by everyone.
Both Government and UNESCO representatives hailed Chief Mumena for championing the fight against illiteracy in his chiefdom and the country as a whole.
Mr Kapita stressed that Chief Mumena has demonstrated to all citizens in the country that one can acquire the highest education regardless of their status in society.
He said Chief Mumena is the country’s true ambassador in the fight against illiteracy-ZANIS.