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Transcript/ScriptZAMBIA FEMALE TEACHERS
HEADLINE: Zambia’s Female Teachers Play Critical Role in Girls’ Education
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 10/08/2023 at 2:06 pm
BYLINE: Kathy Short
DATELINE: LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
VIDEOGRAPHER (S): Richard Kille
VIDEO EDITOR: Richard Kille
PROCUCER: Marcus Harton
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Vincent Makori
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Salem Solomon, KEnochs; Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, UNICEF
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 3:13
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[ In recent years, UNICEF and UNESCO reports have emphasized that female teachers are making a big difference when it comes to educating girls across Africa. VOA visited Lusaka, Zambia, to see the impact they are having there. Kathy Short has this story.]]
((NARRATOR))
Josephine Mwaba has been a teacher for 22 years. She teaches biology at Lusaka’s Kabulonga Girls Secondary School. Mwaba says her students love learning, but the young girls here face challenges.
((Josephine Mwaba, Teacher)) ((Female, in English))
“The challenge is that girls fall pregnant, and sometimes they get married at an early stage. But being a female teacher, I encourage them not to get married early but to concentrate on school, because only when they get educated, then they will be able to make proper decisions and lead an independent life.”
((NARRATOR))
Rabecca Kaira is a student at the school, one of the many taught by female teachers like Mwaba.
((Rabecca Kaira, Student)) ((Female, in English))
“Female teachers act as mothers. As we are here at school, they mostly concentrate on us girls and encourage us to focus on education.”
((NARRATOR))
According to Zambia's Teaching Service Commission, or TSC, there are more than 190,000 teachers in the country, but at least 150,000 more are needed to ensure quality and effective education. The TSC is a government body in charge of human resources, policy guidance, accreditation and validation of teachers’ qualifications.
Sonakshi Sharma, an education research specialist at UNICEF-Innocenti Global Office of Research and Foresight, works on the organization's Women in Learning Leadership research. Sharma says evidence shows that for girls, female teachers play a positive role in learning.
((Mandatory Courtesy: UNICEF))
((Sonakshi Sharma, UNICEF)) ((Female, in English)) ((Zoom))
“School leadership is an important factor to enhance student learning. They [ female teachers] play a critical role in creating a high-quality teaching and learning environment within schools, and this can contribute to overall student learning outcomes and well-being.”
((NARRATOR))
The Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia, which represents teachers in the public service in the country, says female teachers are driving forces in Zambia's education system.
One of the country's biggest challenges is serving students in rural areas. Another is paying teachers what they deserve, says Mwangala Mulako, the union’s director of gender-related issues.
((Mwangala Mulako, Basic Education Teachers Union)) ((Female, in English))
“We have more female representation in our union than males. These teachers, most of whom are women that we have, have upgraded themselves. What I mean is that they have furthered in their studies from maybe a certificate holder to a diploma holder or degree holder or even master’s holder in different fields of education. So, the situation is that they are all crying for an upgrade. They need to be moved from lower salary scales to higher salary scales.”
((NARRATOR))
According to UNICEF, African countries including Zambia are facing the world’s worst teacher shortage. The continent still needs least 17 million more teachers if it is to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030 — and more female teachers are needed now, more than ever.
((Kathy Short, for VOA News, Lusaka, Zambia.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Lusaka, Zambia
Embargo DateOctober 8, 2023 15:59 EDT
Byline
Kathy Short, for VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
