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Zambia: School Riots Out of Control
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The Times of Zambia (Ndola)
EDITORIAL
4 July 2008
Posted to the web 4 July 2008
THE spate of rioting by students in our schools has been increasing in frequency in recent months.
Property worth millions of Kwacha has been damaged in these riots.
Whatever grievances that our pupils and students may have against the authorities, it is not proper or justified for them to destroy the very property they use in learning.
The school infrastructure and equipment have been procured by the Government at a very high cost to the country.
The Government has extensive financing obligations in meeting the needs of all sectors of the country.
There are equally other priority areas including health and agriculture that the Government has to finance for the well-being of the people.
Zambia, like other developing countries, does not possess financial resources to spare in its effort to finance her development programmes.
Every Kwacha is accounted for and carefully invested to ensure maximum benefits for Zambians.
It is unacceptable, therefore, that given the limited resources that the Government has to work with in spearheading development, such wanton acts should be committed with impunity.
It is a known fact that in any given situation where two parties interact, grievances can emerge, and they do indeed emerge.
It is the adoption of right approaches which our students need to learn in airing their grievances.
This inevitably means respect for authority and adherence to the established procedures for such purposes.
In the latest incidence from Kafumbwe High School in Katete for instance, the second in less than three weeks, students rioted because they want their head teacher to be removed.
This is a pure case of indiscipline on the part of the students.
Students at any school or learning institution in Zambia are not the appointing authorities for teaching staff.
It is, therefore, inconceivable and unacceptable for them to make such demands.
They should not be seen to be usurping the powers of the appointing authorities - the Ministry of Education.
This is because they are not trained in education administration.
To hearken to such demands by students means that in effect, the students have power to appoint and promote staff at institutions of learning.
It is unheard of anywhere.
It is time parents and wardens joined hands to stump out such lawlessness among our students who are in effect children subject to parental direction and the direction of their seniors who are in controlling positions.
Parents need to play a more active role in the maintenance of discipline in our schools.
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It will help to supplement the efforts by school authorities in ensuring that the environment in our learning institutions remains conducive to academic pursuit.
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