The opposition UPND has castigated the PF government for failure to adequately plan for the introduction of compulsory computer lessons in schools.
This follows the chaos that characterised yesterday’s grade nine ICT practical exams, that was caused by a combination of a shortage of computers and load shedding.
Some Grade nine pupils were forced to write their practical ICT exams as late as late as 02 Hours this morning due to shortages of computers and load shedding.
The pupils were originally set to sit for their exams at 08: 30 Hours yesterday ended up waiting up to past mid night after the school administrators forced them to share the fewer computers available.
The situation was further compounded by ZESCO load shedding as some schools did not have power from 14 Hours until 22 Hours.
Reacting to the exam fiasco, the opposition party has accused the government of disregarding it’s advice regarding the of introduction of compulsory computer lessons and exams.
The opposition party says it warned Government that the policy would fail due to a lack of facilities.
The party through its spokesperson Charles Kakoma contends that Government should have channelled the money spent on foreign travels to purchasing ICT equipment in schools.
The party released the following statement:
When we advise our friends in the PF to implement projects and ideas with a thorough and well thought out plan they claim we are bitter.
The case of introducing compulsory computer lessons and examination is one policy that we warned them would not work due to a lack of facilities, which has now only worsened due to current load shedding.
The PF have been risking the future prospects of our children across the country by making them sit for these exams sometimes until the early hours of the morning and without food. How do we expect children to have good grades when they are writing their exams half asleep?
The same President Edgar Lungu was busy insulting and threatening teachers across the country if they decampaign him. How does he expect any teacher to be cheering for him when they are being subjected to such poor working conditions?
Our teachers and civil servants are already facing serious economic hardships and now we add such inhuman treatment to both teachers and our children.
The money the PF leaders are using gallivanting the world in private jets would go a long way in purchasing computers for schools and some gensets. The same could be said for the money spent on the more than 30 parliamentary by elections since 2011.
What a shame that countries such as Rwanda, war torn even in the 1990s, is now far better in Information and Technology infrastructure than the so called peaceful Zambia.
If the PF cannot plan for such matters, how do we expect them to deal with issues of mine joblessness, high inflation, economic diversification programmes and job creation?