参与者
Mrs. Isabel Mwape
Topic:
Best practices of teaching of primary learners in local languages in Zambia
Merits:

in service since December, 2010, as a primary teacher at Mutende Day Secondary School

Contribution:

It will accord me a chance to discuss challenges that have been faced that hinder the provision of quality education despite the government’s effort to train teachers. 
Not only will challenges be highlighted but I will also share successes such as reduction in dropout rate and re-entry policy which have been enacted to increase access and promote quality education in Zambia. The reduction of school fees in all Zambian government schools is good in that all the pupils who dropped school because of financial challenges will be accorded a chance to get back to school. In the primary section which is from grade one to seven is free education, from grade eight to twelve its k200 per term in all urban schools while in rural areas its k150 which is affordable to many parents.  These successes can also be adopted and implemented in other countries around the globe. Despite increases in enrollment and completion rates, quality education remains low. 
This is due to challenges in teaching that include quality of teachers and supply, lack of teaching and learning materials and school governance by school managers.   
In my view the general education sector in Zambia has not improved so much although the government of Zambia is committed to allocating more resources to the education sector in order to expand access to primary, secondary and tertiary education, there is still more work to be done. Education is seen as a major factor in fighting poverty and hunger. The goal of the education sector is to increase equitable access to quality education and skills training to enhance human capacity for sustainable national development. 
Some of the challenges that I have faced as a teacher are as follows; teaching eight subjects in primary although this has been has been looked into by the ministry of education and specialization has been encouraged and it has brought about team work, balancing the different learning needs of pupils is a challenge in that every learner is different, I try my best to involve all the learners in my lessons because I do put this into consideration whenever am preparing my lesson plans and I use various teaching methods such as discussions, question and answer, group work and many more which enables leaner involvement in the lessons, I give remedial work to learners who are slow and homework three times in a week.  
 

Expectations:

The participation of various teachers in this forum will further equip me with knowledge and skills which will be shared to my fellow Zambian teachers in bringing about and enhancing quality education for all.  I wish to reiterate that the promotion of quality education in Zambia, Africa and indeed the whole world will a profound effect on humanity. This is because education transforms lives and society at large.  In fact, it is said that educated people are prime movers of change in society.

1.    Meet fellow teachers from various countries and share challenges I have faced in my teaching profession as well as solutions.
2.    Share best teaching methods that I use in delivering of my lessons
3.    Learn other best teaching methods that my fellow teachers from other countries use which can be adopted in my country to promote quality education.
4.    To learn from professors, business men and other delegates who will be in attendance other areas that can be beneficial to our learners in promoting quality education.
5.    I will learn application of wide range of appropriate pedagogies. 
Finally, I wish to contend that attending such a conference will grant me an opportunity to carry out a research on why quality education must be implemented in schools and bring about solutions to the causes of failure to adhere and deliver quality education to the Zambian general populace.