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| St. Joseph's Is A Girls' Secondary School |
By Matongo Maumbi
St. Joseph's Secondary School in Chivuna, Monze has 'expelled' three girls for being in possession of cellphones, which are prohibited by the school.
Two other girls, who are in examination classes, have been suspended till time for final exams.
When contact Head Teacher, Scholastica Namangala Banda explained that Parents agreed for such measures to be taken adding that they even signed some documents to endorse it.
Strangely, the affected parents have expressed ignorance but the Head Teacher said it's a learning experience. She said the move would deter other girls from using phones. She pointed out that the school has two cellphones for use by the girls except the girls shun using them.
The Girls were sent away on Wednesday, June 4, 2013 and their parents were not given an audience as per normal disciplinary measure.
"They were found charging their phones at the weekend," explained the source. "The school administration sat on Monday and called the parents to come and pick up their children by Wednesday latest Friday."
Some teachers talked to have expressed shock at the 'expulsion' of the girls which the Headteacher said was a transfer request from the parents.
"It is agreeable that by the rules set by the school, it is not allowed for pupil to own a phone, but the punishment of EXPULSION is far too harsh," said one of the Teachers who sought anonymity.
A lecturer at University of Zambia Nambole Munkombwe reacted: "It sounds harsh but truth be told. These pupils may have been warned a number of times but they thought they would survive. Parents are also to blame for the illegal provisions. It is now the parents who are carrying the burden. They have to find schools for their expelled children."
St. Joseph's Secondary School in Chivuna, Monze has 'expelled' three girls for being in possession of cellphones, which are prohibited by the school.
Two other girls, who are in examination classes, have been suspended till time for final exams.
When contact Head Teacher, Scholastica Namangala Banda explained that Parents agreed for such measures to be taken adding that they even signed some documents to endorse it.
Strangely, the affected parents have expressed ignorance but the Head Teacher said it's a learning experience. She said the move would deter other girls from using phones. She pointed out that the school has two cellphones for use by the girls except the girls shun using them.
The Girls were sent away on Wednesday, June 4, 2013 and their parents were not given an audience as per normal disciplinary measure.
"They were found charging their phones at the weekend," explained the source. "The school administration sat on Monday and called the parents to come and pick up their children by Wednesday latest Friday."
Some teachers talked to have expressed shock at the 'expulsion' of the girls which the Headteacher said was a transfer request from the parents.
"It is agreeable that by the rules set by the school, it is not allowed for pupil to own a phone, but the punishment of EXPULSION is far too harsh," said one of the Teachers who sought anonymity.
A lecturer at University of Zambia Nambole Munkombwe reacted: "It sounds harsh but truth be told. These pupils may have been warned a number of times but they thought they would survive. Parents are also to blame for the illegal provisions. It is now the parents who are carrying the burden. They have to find schools for their expelled children."
He adds: "One of the most disturbing items in learning
are cell phones. So much time is wasted playing with these pieces of
technology. As an educationist, I find cell phones a deterant to good
learning."
However, James Asiana Banda argues that "the world has
changed now. Schools should be flexible on the use of cell phones. In fact some
educators are promoting incorporating cell phones into their teaching. Use of
technology in teaching is a great motivator for learning. And cell phones are
the readily available technology tools. We need to move on and accept the
change."
Hikabwa Decius Chipande, a former teacher at the school, is "concerned
with the issues being raised in the other chat of demonizing the headteacher
Mrs. Banda. The rules were clearly spelt in the acceptance letters and we have
to understand that Chivuna is a mission school - set in that area to primarily
serve the local people in Chivuna not us in Lusaka. Such rules help to level
the playing fields with kinds coming from Chijanwa, Nkonkola etc.
"It is because of this discipline that we always go
there to plead for places. As a former Chivuna teacher I know that the school
deals with such cases in a level headed way. Therefore, I plead with those
demonizing Mrs. Banda - who was my teacher at St Pauls Secondary by the way to
engage the school in a better way and it is possible that they can reconsider
and reinstate the kids."
Chipande further warns that "contacting a minister or
whoever will make them (school admin) take a hard stance. My daughter is at St
Josephs and if she happens to be one of them I would just accept it and punish
her myself because I insist that every-time she leaves for school she must
leave her phone."
Namboole concludes that "rules for conducive study are
in place and should be obeyed. These rules have been developed over time and
have been shown to work. Students should understand when they are being helped.
Disobedience deserves to be punished although not as harshly as executed in the
current case, but the students knew what was coming if caught and therefore
well-deserved."
The question that remains unanswered: Was the punishment the
girls received well-deserved?
