EXORCISING THE DEMON OF ILLITERACY

Photo credit: Kafula Mwila

If you have ever attended an exorcism session you will attest to the fact that the paranormal exists and in a realm that is beyond human reach. Exorcisms vary from religion to religion; bottom line is there are some spiritual forces that live among us and in some cases in us. Superstitious? Well, here is the problem, a large percentage of Zambia’s population remains illiterate over 50 years after independence. Without spiritualising anything, you will realise that to a very large extent, illiteracy hampers development. Want the facts and figures? Google it or simply look around in your extended family and count how many are literate- get the picture? This means the current responses by government and  the private sector need to go deeper than mere distribution of books in schools; there is need to apply methods which will address the problem from multiple angles.

To exorcise is to evict a bad spirit, in this case a demon from the person or the area in the name of a higher power than that demon. In assessing the negative impact that demons have on the life of a humans, it is safe to say that illiteracy has gained itself this persona. The adverse effects of illiteracy are written all over the pages of this country; for instance, people talk about how maternal and child mortality could be reduced by fifty percent not just if services were improved but if the affected citizenry were literate. There is no telling the magnitude of the negative impact illiteracy has on our socio-economic development.

Where did this all begin, how and when did the ‘demon’ find its seat among us? Way back to the colonial era, we inherited a language that we have now made official and anyone who cannot read or write in this supreme dialect is rendered illiterate. Should English therefore be the yardstick for measuring literacy levels? Our minds have been so attuned to even look down on those who fail to converse in the ‘royal’ language. Drastic shift is required where this mindset is renewed into appreciating the mother tongue. Why is it a laughable matter for a Zambian to speak ‘broken English’ but acceptable for a French or Chinese to ‘break’ the ‘Queen’s language’?    

Recently, local languages were made compulsory as medium of communication for the first years of primary school in Zambia. So the math, the science and so on will be taught in local languages. There was a lot of hype around this development and there still is as people in the education sector frantically begin to work backwards to smoothen the implementation of a political pronouncement. Nothing wrong with the pronouncement but were we prepared to take the national syllabus in this direction? Will this move eventually contribute to raising the literacy levels? Are all schools equipped with the resources to support this change How does early childhood education link with the first years of primary education when the former is taught in English and vernacular has been introduced in the latter? All these questions need to be answered including on how the poor reading culture shall be tackled. There is need for commitment from government to make sure that they see this pronouncement through to the end.

It is a fact that if someone can afford a beer then they can equally afford to buy a book to read. Our residential areas are littered with bars and pubs and whatever it is where alcohol is sold but how many public libraries are in most of these communities? This scenario does not encourage anyone to opt to go to a library that is miles away. it is easier to rush into a tavern which is within vicinity. Can the general populous be brought on board by taking literacy activities to them, within their reach?

Lastly, but not the least- this ‘demon’ of illiteracy needs concerted efforts; public and private, individuals and groups, religious and circular to promote the growth of what has been neglected for so long and yet is key to the development of this country. If we are to head 'Toward a Zambian Genre', the literacy agenda must take centre stage.

 

LITERACY AND DEVELOPMENT



Photo credit: Kafula Mwila

 

Cholera has transformed the capital city. The fresh air that freely flows between the trees on Cairo road is appealing. The way the eyes can now sweep over a distance without obstructions of make-shift structures, is amazing. A lot of people are talking highly about the capital now. The question is, did it have to take an epidemic, did people need to die in order for the nation to wake up to the filth that was choking streets, drainages and every little space or passage? There is a whole lot of whys and wherefores that others will and probably have already talked about, this article is highlighting literacy and how it is a catalyst to development. Someone once said that if more women were literate, 50% of the diseases that affect them would be reduced and in most cases out rightly eradicated. Human resource is the largest component of development as long as they are literate enough to understand and interpret the visions, policies, etc.

Clearly, there has been a lot of illiteracy on many issues in this era of filth in the capital city. Hygiene for one. Is it a lack of understanding or the simple fact that people just don’t care? Both vendor and buyer should know better not to operate in undesignated areas. ‘Failure of systems’, you say but why are the designated areas being shunned so viciously?

The unsanitary conditions and lack of services such as garbage collection in these illegal vending spots have taught the nation unforgettable lessons. When people are literate they will not only be able to read and write but will understand their responsibilities as citizens and be patriotic enough to curb such damaging consequences. Responsibility is another. The phrase, ‘we are waiting for the government’, has not only promoted laziness but has to a large extent led to lawlessness. Again both vendor and buyer should appreciate the differentiation between a citizen and national leaders, together they form government. When laws are put in place, the responsibility is on a citizen to obey. Example, littering. What role does a national leader have, when a citizen buys a fruit, eats it and then throws left overs through the window of a moving vehicle?

The whole point is that each and every individual should educate themselves on how best they can contribute to the development of this country. This does not require a degree or some rocket science. In the villages, where most people are said to be uneducated, it is very clean. Year in, year out, cholera breaks out in the major cities of Zambia but never in the rural areas, why not? What then is this literacy? Is it only the ability to read and write? The other meaning of literacy is competence or knowledge in a specified area or subject. Surely, the latter does not necessarily require that one goes to school because some of that knowledge is common, isn’t it? The final question therefore is, without a soldier holding a gun and standing next to you, what will you do to maintain the cleanliness that has been achieved over this short period?