Maravi

Countrywide protests by pupils continue

Countrywide protests by pupils continue
Written by Allan Mulenga in Lusaka and Rabecca Chipanta in Kitwe
Monday, June 15, 2009 9:57:30 PM

The prolonged strike by teachers has raised 'eyebrows' to pupils throughout the country. For sure if left unchecked, the industrial unrest among the teaching staff will have a bearing on the academic performance of pupils during this year's examinations.

And a check by The Education Post during the week found schools deserted, while pupils were spotted loitering around in towns, as most government schools in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt were left only to be handled by student teachers.

In view of the fact that the final examinations period is fast approaching, the entire week has been punctuated by spontaneous pupils' protests across the country.

In Lusaka, pupils at Munali Girls and Munali Boys High School, Kabulonga Boys High School, as well as Lusaka High School (GRZ) singly ran amok in protest against the government's failure to make teachers get back to class.

Quick action from riot police stopped the protest by pupils, who were incensed by the number of days they had stayed without learning because of the persistent strikes by teachers.

They put up a protest against the government's neglect of the teachers' plight and chanted social and political slogans.

“We want change, we want change!” the pupils shouted. “Pabwato [PF's symbol].”

Meanwhile, throughout the week several pupils in most government-owned school were apprehensive over the continued strike by teachers.

At Lusaka's Kabulonga Boys High and Kabulonga Girls High School pupils were spotted loitering around, while only a handful of student teachers were at hand to attend to pupils.

And 18-year-old Fred Mpola said the school administration had not communicated to the pupils about the situation at the school.

“Since Monday all what we know is that teachers are not teaching. We don't know exactly what is going on and why teachers have stopped teaching us. Some pupils are even planning to demonstrate, although that is not a good idea,” Fred said, in an interview during the week.

He said pupils had negatively been affected by the strike, saying there was a lot of work they needed to cover before the final examination.

“It [strike] has really affected us because we have a lot of topics to cover this term,” said Fred, a grade 12 pupil at the school.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Morgan Shibaba urged the government to give the teachers what was due to them, saying it was government responsibility to attend to the welfare of its citizens.

“The government should give the teachers their monies, so that we can start learning. It is not good to be working while getting 'peanuts'. And government should remember that for someone to be a president or ministers you need to pass through teachers,” said Morgan, a grade 12 pupil at the same school.

And several Lusaka-based grade 12 pupils have expressed displeasure over the prolonged strike by teachers.

Blandina, a pupil at Munali Girls High, said pupils had not been learning for the past two weeks, stating that they [pupils] were behind in their academic calendar.

“We are losing out as grade twelves because we still have a lot of work to do, especially in Mathematics and Biology and in those subjects we can't understand on our own, we need teachers to explain to us [pupils],” she said.

Blandina urged the government to quickly intervene in the matter, saying teachers' action had deprived pupils with their education.

“The government should give teachers what is due to them because they need good salaries and improved conditions of service to teach us well. As you can see pupils here have stopped coming to school because of the continued strike. They [pupils] are even planning to stage another protest if the situation remains the same,” said Blandina.

And Jason Phiri, a pupil at Lusaka High, appealed to the government to quickly conclude their negotiations with teachers' union, so that classes could commence.

Jason, urged his fellow pupils to remain calm, as they wait for the response from government.

“I understand the feelings of my friends, but if they want to protest I urge them to demonstrate peacefully. It is not a good idea to destroy other people's property,” said Jason.

In Kabwe in Central province, pupils from Mukobeko High, Highridge High, Kabwe High, Kalonga High, Lukanga Basic, Broadway, Bwacha schools rioted over the government's failure to meet the teachers' demands.

The pupils blocked the road leading to Ngungu and Bwacha townships with logs and rocks but they were only stopped by police as they attempted to get into the town centre.

In Livingstone, police granted a permit to teachers to hold a peaceful demonstration in the tourist capital dubbed Back Wednesday.

On the Copperbelt, in Chililabombwe irate pupils from Chililabombwe High, Muleya High and Mitondo High School rioted in protest against the prolonged strike by teachers and caused traffic jams on some roads in the districts.

Chililabombwe district commissioner Timothy Musonda confirmed the development, saying the pupils damaged one vehicle whilst they were rioting.

Musonda said the owner of the damaged vehicle had since complained to the police.

“Pupils from Chililabombwe High School marched to Muleya High School were the pupils from that school joined their colleagues, they later marched to Mitondo High School and marched to my office were I addressed them. After addressing them some pupils left but others to be the ring leaders remained,” he said in an interview during the week.

Musonda explained that a number of the pupils got violent blocking the road and police had to be reinforced to calm the situation.

“A few of the pupils remained and blocked the road, it was only after they got violent and blocked the road that police were called in. Ten pupils who are suspected to be the ring leaders were picked and have been charged with riotous behavior and will appear in court. One vehicle was damaged and the owner has laid a charge against the pupil responsible.” Musonda said.

In Kitwe, pupils at Kitwe Boys High, Mindolo High and Helen Kaunda High School rioted making for the second time in two weeks, since the beginning of strike a month ago.

The irate pupils blocked the Kitwe- Chingola road and Kuomboka drive.

Police had a tough time to disperse rioting-Mindolo High pupils who had earlier blocked the road with rocks and tree branches and throwing stones at motorists who were forced to either park their vehicles at a distance or turn back.

Slogan-chanting Helen Kaunda High pupils blocked the main road in protest of the persistent strike by teachers.

A number of pupils from the schools had been picked by police in connection with the riots.

Labels: DEMONSTRATION, STRIKE, STUDENTS

posted by MrK @ 9:02 PM