By JOHN SAKALA
Fifty six (56) years after independence and 14 years after it was established, Mumbwas Kayumweyumwe Community School pupils still sit on blocks and planks during lessons while teachers have to stand throughout the lesson due to lack of furniture.
With 318 pupils, Kayumweyumwe community school of Nambala ward only has 52 out of the required 168 desks and only two trained teachers doubling as Headteacher and her deputy while two other teachers are merely grade 12 school leavers who have volunteered their services at a paltry but not consistent K 500 per month allowance.
The school built in 2006 by the community and services about seven villages only has one staff house for the Headteacher while her deputy lives in a one roomed mud brick wall house leaving him with no choice but to leave his family in Mumbwa town which is more than 60 kilometers from the school.
Despite the Lions Club constructing two by two classroom blocks, the lack of furniture is hampering the provision of quality education as government through the Mumbwa District Education Board Secretaries office has failed to provide desks despite having frequented the institution and making assurances.
The state of affairs at the community school did not please Mumbwa Central Member of Parliament Credo Nanjuwa who conducted an on the spot check of the school on Wednesday and wondered what happened to the provincial desk making project that former General Education Minister David Mabumba had informed the nation on the floor of the House.
Mr Nanjuwa said it was a pity that government has neglected to provide furniture for the school despite the community and donors constructing classroom blocks and demanded for immediate action from the Ministry of General Education, office of the central province permanent secretary and District Commissioner describing the situation as an embarrassment.
The area lawmaker who also heard that the school depends on well-wishers for the purchase of chalk as the community was failing to buy chalk demanded that government upgrades the school from its community status to a full grant aided government school to enable it access some services such as government paid teachers and monthly operational grants.
Mr Nanjuwa who visited the school in the company of Nambala ward Councilor, Stellah Chilonda, his parliamentary Professional Assistant David Kastom and Mumbwa Central UPND constituency Chairman Freeman Choolwe committed to acquire trunks for the storage of examination materials for the school which have been lacking prompting management to travel about 50 kilometers to Nambala school to get examination materials every morning.
He also took time to visit the local health centre where he sensitized people seeking medical services on the need to register and acquire voters’ cards.
