By CHINOYI CHIPULU
National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) have expressed disappoint over the 100 percent failure rate recorded during the 2021 Grade Nine Examination at Mumena A Secondary School in Kalumbila.
All the 38 pupils that sat for their Grade Nine Exams at Mumena A failed to make it to Grade 10.
NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa said described the failure record as shocking and an academic taboo.
“NAQEZ finds it extremely difficult to believe the fact that all the 38 candidates who sat for the 2021 Grade 9 exams at Mumena A Secondary School failed. This development is not only shocking but also an academic taboo,” Mr Chansa said in a statement.
He said investigation should be instituted to find the cause of the pathetic performance of the pupils and because the finds will help in making genuine amends.
“As we demand a serious inquiry into this matter, the ugly reality at Mumena School in Kalumbila District of North Western Province has raised fundamental academic, social and cultural questions about this school, our education system and society as a whole.
“The nation will be looking forward to an honest scan of the academic background of the said candidates, the absenteeism rate by both teachers and learners, the school environment, teacher motivation at the school, the attitude of the learners and the community towards school as well as the relationship between teachers and the school administration, ” read part of the statement.
Mr Chansa said the Ministry of Education should further investigate the levels of parental support the school received, the commitment of teachers to work as well as availability of teaching and learning materials at school.
“Finally but crucial, what has happened at Mumena, in the view of NAQEZ, has something to do with automatic progression of Grade 7 learners into grade 8.If this policy will not be abandoned, we fear for more academic disasters in Zambia,” he said
