REPORTS that an average of 17,600 young Zambians drop out of school each year, due to mainly pregnancies cannot go without comment.
Agreeably, the figure is rather too much, hence there is an urgent need to address the situation.
To this end, First Lady Christine Kaseba said the issue of teenage pregnancy should be declared a “National Crisis” which should be fought head on as a “National Agenda”.
Yes, I am in agreement that this problem needs to be fought with seriousness as it has long term effects both on the individual and the nation.
Those drop out revelations came to light during the teachers and community leaders training camp at Chinsali Girls Secondary School last week.
Details are that, in Muchinga Province alone, a total of 289 pupils dropped out of school after falling pregnant in the first half of the year.
Indeed, as Dr Kaseba lamented, the scenario is a crisis that is frightening.
Seriously, imagining an average of 17,600 dropping out of school each year is indeed frightening and worrisome.
To this end, this may seem a trivial issue, BUT it is very serious and the scenario needs to be corrected if Zambia is to develop.
Zambia has remained a developing country for many years; the question we should ask ourselves is why?
In my opinion, it is such issues that most people take as trivial that are taking Zambia backwards.
Yes, it is the young girls dropping out of school due to pregnancies today that are the much needed human resource required for development 5-10 years down the line.
In this regard, it will not be surprising if Zambia remained a developing country in the next 30 years should stakeholders fail to address such issues.
To sum up, individual development of these young girls is also cardinal; hence the urgent need to address this issue.
Therefore, my appeal to stakeholders and indeed the Government is that they treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves.
And agreeably, the call for the declaration of this issue as a “National Crisis” is not an exaggeration BUT a statement of fact.
It is in this regard that at this point I wish to give an example that will help bring out the reality?
A few years back, a number of Zambians especially teachers left to look for jobs in the neighboring countries.
Admittedly, a big number of teachers at that time left the country BUT the story is now different.
The question is “What has changed”?
In my own observation, the countries that needed teachers at that time have done their home work and invested in their human resource meaning they do not need teachers any more.
In my view, they have closed all the holes and they are home and dry.
It is in this regard that the issue of girls dropping out today may not seem serious, BUT if the trend continues, it will not be surprising that Zambia in future will need expatriates even in unspecialised.
Such a scenario derails development.
So, this indeed should be declared a national crisis that needs urgent attention.
On the other hand, however, I think parents also have a role and a duty to protect their children to ensure that they do not engage in negative vices.
To win this battle Government, stakeholders and indeed parents need to work as one force.
Seriously, parents need to impart good values and morals in their children.
Further, children need to be protected and guided until adulthood when they can make correct judgments.
To this end, it is a fact that many of you (readers) would not have become that nurse, teacher or director if your parents or guardians had not invested, protected and guided you.
Today, many of you are contributing to national development because of the role your parents and guardians played in your lives.
Therefore, the role of parents in wining this battle cannot be ignored.
However, it is disappointing that some parents and guardians are in the forefront in marrying off their young children while others are turning a blind eye to what is happening around their children.
To this end, this fight needs concerted efforts from Government, stakeholders and indeed parents.
Further I wish to add that I am seriously of the view that the key to development is investment in human resource.
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