ZAMBIA: Covid-19 Continues to Affect Quality Education Provision
Rt. Rev. Patrick Chisanga O.F.M. Conv
Mwenya Mukuka
Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) say the closure of schools for the second time due to the 3rd wave COVID-19 pandemic has continued to affect the provision of quality education.
Speaking when he opened a 3-day Webinar workshop on Monday, 19th July, 2021 organized by the ZCCB National Education Office in Conjunction with the ZCCB Covid-19 Multi Sectoral Response Team of the Catholic Secretariat, the Bishop Director for Education and Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults and Minors Rt. Rev. Patrick Chisanga O.F.M. Conv. said more treasurable teaching and learning time is lost by the repeated disruption of the academic calendar.
Bishop Chisanga has, however, lauded the impressive and effective learning options of distance learning model that uses digital platforms to mitigate what he described as unparalleled situation.
Bishop Chisanga further added that the pandemic has not only impacted on the economic, human and social life of the schools staff and learners but also their mental, emotional and spiritual health saying learning institutions in Zambia have recorded some incidences of members of school communities being infected or dying.
“The pandemic has not only caused economic and medical crisis but also mental health crisis for a number of reasons,” he said.
Bishop Chisanga who is the local ordinary for Mansa Diocese said that the uncertainty around the virus and its transmission, coupled with misinformation, is causing fear and anxiety in many people.
He noted that the measures directed so as to reduce the transmission such as self-quarantining, isolation, wearing of masks, physical distancing and vaccination have other psychological effects on the school staff and learners.
He added that daily, exposure to information and news on TV, Radio and other media sources results in different mental, emotional and spiritual reactions from people, especially the school staff and learners.
“The news about millions and thousands of people who are getting infected, others dying in health facilities, while others are being brought in dead, provoke a lot of emotional trauma, anxiety and fear. These affect the way our children relate, feel about themselves and even function,” he said.
The National Education Office of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has organized a psycho-social Webinar workshop to initiate a conversation with Head teachers, Career Guidance and Counseling Unit Heads, School Chaplains and School Nurses, and other teaching staff in Catholic and non-Catholic learning institutions.
The workshop which attracted more than 160 participants discussed the positivity rate of Covid-19 among children, the effects of Covid-19 on the mental health of children, how to assist children to cope with emotional stress, trauma and anxiety caused by the pandemic, and how to provide counselling, pastoral and spiritual accompaniment to children during and after the pandemic, among others.
The Webinar was designed to contribute towards increased ability for school staff to assist learners and the staff suffering from various traumatic experiences, such as loss of parent(s), siblings or classmate(s), stress, anxiety and other psychological challenges caused by the Covid-19.
Zambia is expected to open schools on the 16th August, 2021 after Government directed that they be closed due to a 3rd wave of Covid-19 .
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