*_Do Zambian pupils- students evaporate after an exam? – wonders Lewis Mwape_*

[blockquote style=”1″]*_Do Zambian pupils- students evaporate after an exam? – wonders Lewis Mwape_*[/blockquote]
By _Derrick Sinjela_
*FORMER Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) Executive Director Lewis Mwape* is disconcerted over ramifications created by the country’s pyramid education structure seemingly confining learners to destitution and near extinction. *Mr. Mwape* says it is concerning that at primary school level, a lot of children are enrolled but fail to reach or attain tertiary education and qualifications on account of lack of sufficient progression learning spaces.

Justice Minister Given Lubinda, Bishop John Mambo with Lewis Mwape at Crests Golf View Hotel – Picture by Derrick Sinjela

A vexed *Mwape* grieved that it annually puzzled him where learners are pushed to as thousands of pupils and students fail to proceed beyond primary, secondary, college and university learning level. “In the *Zambian Pyramid Education Structure* , a lot of children and young people enrolled at primary level disappear and remain an accounted for. We see a lot more people entering college and university but only a handful graduate. Where do our pupils and students go to, do they evaporate,” quizzed *Mwape* . *The former  ZCSD Executive Director* is aggrieved that in rustic *Zambia* ,  the situation is more dire as a lot more children especially the girl-child is married off at Grade, with parents seeking to profit on account of a sibling being too old to remain in  less rewarding classroom. “Really, ‘ *The Million Kwacha Question* ‘ I continue to pose to school authorities is, where do children and young people go after dropping at *Grade 4,* *Grade 7,* *Grade 9,* *Grade 12* , and *college* and *university* levels? Do our learners cease to exist and worse still, the Government plans to sell *National Research Development Centre (NRDC).* If they have found land on which to relocate this infrastructure, it will equally increase learning spaces by transforming *NRDC* onto a university, teaching skills to students in line with the Patriotic Front (PF) Government two-tier system of education; placing emphasis on academic and skills development?,”  admonished *Mwape* .

Given Lubinda, Bishop Mambo and Lewis Mwape at Crests Golf View Hotel