NEWS
EDUTIMES
Comment
THE unanimous backing by
stakeholders of the ban of auto-
matic progression to Grade eight
could not have come at a better
time than now. The stakehold-
ers were concerned that the
automatic progression to sec-
ondary school did not re-
flect any improvement in the
performance
of
Grade
seven
candidates.
All the 388,331 candidates who
sat for the 2018 Grade seven
composite examination were
selected to grade eight, bringing
the national progression to 100
percent from 99.14 recorded
in
2017.
The stakeholders held an Inda-
ba which strongly recommend-
ed Continuous Assessment, as
opposed to automatic progres-
sion, to determine movement
from one level to the next, by
transition
tests.
Continuous Assessment is an
ongoing diagnostic assessment
classroom based process, that
uses a variety of assess-
ment tools to measure the
performance
of
learners.
The Minister of General Ed-
ucation, Mr David Mabumba
announced recently that the
Ministry had embarked on the
reform of the Grade seven ex-
amination to make it more
relevant
to
the
needs
of
the
nation.
The reforms will include analys-
ing the structure of the examina-
tion question papers, grading
and purpose of the examina-
tion. The rationale behind the
system is to emphasise the
competencies of Grade seven
candidates are able to exhib-
it after seven years of primary
e d u c a t i o n .
We commend the Government
for taking this important step
in reforming the structure of
Grade seven examinations
in the country. This will sig-
nificantly change the way
examinations are done at this
level level and also instil a sense
of seriousness in candidates
and
prepare
them
for
secondary
education.
Automatic passage to sec-
ondary school has the poten-
tial to promote laziness and
complacency among candidates
who would not see the need to
work hard in primary school.
We also believe that rethinking
automatic progression to Grade
eight will ease the burden of
teachers handling these learn-
ers at a higher level, because
they will be competent enough to
understand the content at that
level. Secondary school teach-
ers will equally have more time to
teach students level-based con-
tent instead of doing remedial
work for some slow learners to
catch up with their colleagues.
We totally support of these new
measures in our school curric-
ulum and we hope this will be
implemented as soon as
possible to enhance educa-
tion standards in Zambia.
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2
Stakeholders ban automatic
progression to grade 8
By VIOLET NAKAMBA
The recent three- day Educa-
tion Indaba at the Mulungushi
International Conference Cen-
tre in Lusaka, attended by
various education stakehold-
ers across the country, unani-
mously banned the automatic
progression that allowed a 100
percent pass to grade eight.
All the 388,331 candidates who
sat for the 2018 Grade seven
composite examination, were
selected to grade eight, bring-
ing the national progression
to 100 percent from 99.14 re-
corded in 2017.
Minister of General Education
David Mabumba made the rev-
elation when he announced the
2018 Grade 7 examination re-
sults in December 2018.
The 2018 grade seven results
showed that a total of 239,024
candidates obtained Divisions
1, 2 and 3, representing 61.53
percent of the total candidates
that sat for the examination.
A total of 149,307 candidates
obtained Division 4, the least
grade; representing 38.44 per-
cent.
The stakeholders at the indaba
settled for Continuous Assess-
ment, to determine the pro-
gression from one level to the
next, by transition tests.
Continuous Assessment is an
ongoing diagnostic assessment
classroom based process, that
uses a variety of assessment
tools to measure the perfor-
mance of learners.
There had been concerns
among stakeholders over the
automatic progression of pu-
pils, as it did not reflect any im-
provement in the performance
of candidates.
of structure of the examination
question papers, the grading
and purpose of the examina-
tion. It will be reformed so that
it reports more on the compe-
tencies the candidates are able
to exhibit after seven years of
primary education.
The National Action for Quality
Education in Zambia (NAQEZ)
insisted that the Ministry of
General Education should abol-
Mr David Mabumba, Minister of General Education
M r
Mabumba said with this
100 percent progression of
learners to Grade 8, the Min-
istry of General Education has
embarked on the reform of this
examination to make it more
relevant to the needs of the
nation.
The reforms will take the form
ish or reform grade seven na-
tional examinations.
NAQEZ Executive Director Aar-
on Chansa said grade exam-
inations had ceased to perform
diagnostic and evaluative func-
tions, as every candidate who
sits for the examinations makes
it to grade eight, regardless of
the marks obtained.
He felt grade seven examina-
tions were a sheer waste of
money and time.
“We suggested that the Minis-
try of General Education makes
grade
seven
examinations
competitive, for the system to
improve grade eight intakes
and for the nation to ultimate-
ly improve standards of Sec-
ondary Education. We strong-
ly suggest that cut- off points
be re-introduced this year and
grade seven failures must be
made to repeat the grade,” Mr
Chansa said.
According to Mr Chansa, grade
seven examinations help to
promote competitiveness and
excellence and make the ex-
amination a truly significant
educational process.
The Zambia National Union of
Teachers (ZNUT) general sec-
retary Newman Bubala said the
100 percent pass rate for grade
seven pupils for 2018, does not
reflect the improvement of pu-
pil performance but that it can
be attributed to spaces made
available by upgrading some
schools to basic level.
Mr Bubala said grade seven ex-
aminations need to be re-ex-
amined to improve the quality
of education at primary level.
Chief attributes high school girl
pregnancies to cultural erosion
By VIOLET NAKAMBA
fortable with western
values, at the expense
of our own values…we
should do everything
possible to ensure that
this does not get out of
hand,” Chief Sipatunyana
said.
He said young people are prob-
lematic. They copy what oth-
er cultures do. They are busy
SENIOR Chief Sipatunyana embracing different cultures
of Kalomo district in South- by emulating offensive dress
ern Province has attributed codes, which reveal most body
the rise in teenage pregnan- parts.
cies to deteriorating cultur-
The chief said children have be-
al values in Zambia.
And Chief Sipatunyana is wor- come unmanageable because
ried that cases of child mar- of what they watch on Televi-
riage in his chiefdom are on the sion, which influences their ac-
upswing, despite the measures tions in most cases.
being implemented to curb the “Girls and boys as young as
12 are free to watch Television
vice.
The chief who advocates programmes which are not
against child marriage, says he suitable for their age. That in-
has observed with concern, the fluences their imagination and
rate at which local traditions, forces them to practice what-
values and culture are being ever they watch on TV,” the
eroded and replaced by west- traditional leader said.
And the chief has said that child
ern values.
“We seem to be com- marriage is rampant in the dis-
trict, despite all the measures
put in place to control the prac-
tice.
“Children below 18 are getting
married and teenage pregnan-
cy is on the rise, forcing girls
to drop out of school,” he said.
However, the traditional lead-
er, who attended a workshop
on child marriage in Lusaka in
2016, has continued to con-
duct sensitisation campaigns
against child marriage.
He takes advantage of special
occasions like traditional cer-
emonies to disseminate vital
information against child mar-
riage.
Last year, Chief Sipatunyana
invited the Zambia Police from
Kalomo to give a talk on child
marriage during a traditional
ceremony.
In the same year, the chief
on several occasions, blocked
marriages involving girls under
the age of 18.
“We are referring all child mar-
riage cases to the police Victim
Support Unit. We are using ev-
ery occasion to speak against
child marriage,” Chief Sipa-
tunyana said.
Experts such as the police and
health workers are also in-
volved in sensitising commu-
nities against child marriage,
in an effort to reduce maternal
deaths. Some young mothers
were dying because of delays
in reaching health facilities and
other health complications.
Chief Sipatunyana said he is
ready to do more in addressing
child marriage but he is limited
by resources.
“I would like to do more but I
am limited by movement and
other requirements.”
He said young people are stub-
born and a lot needs to be
done to enlighten them about
various social issues, but this
is difficult if resources are in-
adequate.
“It is important for traditional
leaders to take part in sensitis-
ing people against child mar-
riage,” he said.