Adult Education
Adult Education in Zambia during the Colonial Period: Challenges in the Post-Independence Era*
Presented by M. Luchembe Lecturer – Department of Adult Education and Extension Studies University of Zambia
* The paper was presented at the Centre for the Study of International Cooperation in Education (CICE), Hiroshima University in Japan, on 22nd May 2009.
Abstract This paper is entitled Adult Education in Zambia during the Colonial Period: Challenges in the post-Independence Era. The paper discusses the main features of both the colonial and pre-colonial adult education before examining the challenges that Zambia experienced upon attaining independence. It observes that the colonial adult education did not deal with the realities of the Zambian environment. Consequently, it completely destroyed the functional aspect of traditional adult education while it furthered the interests of the colonialists. It also explains how historical factors influenced adult education in newly independent Zambia. For example, negative attitudes towards practical work that began during the colonial era continued even after independence just as the emphasis on the teaching of literacy at the expense of other forms of adult education persisted. Finally, the paper proposes blending compatible aspects of indigenous knowledge systems with ‘modern’ adult education in order to meet society’s needs and aspirations.
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Introduction The paper sheds some light on adult education in Zambia during the colonial era and the subsequent challenges that the country faced upon attainment of political independence. It is divided into four sections. The first section is the introduction which provides brief information on Zambia and the definition of adult education. The next section discusses the main features of both pre-colonial and colonial adult education in Zambia. The third section, which is the main thrust of the paper, discusses the challenges that adult education and the country faced soon
Presented by M. Luchembe Lecturer – Department of Adult Education and Extension Studies University of Zambia
* The paper was presented at the Centre for the Study of International Cooperation in Education (CICE), Hiroshima University in Japan, on 22nd May 2009.
Abstract This paper is entitled Adult Education in Zambia during the Colonial Period: Challenges in the post-Independence Era. The paper discusses the main features of both the colonial and pre-colonial adult education before examining the challenges that Zambia experienced upon attaining independence. It observes that the colonial adult education did not deal with the realities of the Zambian environment. Consequently, it completely destroyed the functional aspect of traditional adult education while it furthered the interests of the colonialists. It also explains how historical factors influenced adult education in newly independent Zambia. For example, negative attitudes towards practical work that began during the colonial era continued even after independence just as the emphasis on the teaching of literacy at the expense of other forms of adult education persisted. Finally, the paper proposes blending compatible aspects of indigenous knowledge systems with ‘modern’ adult education in order to meet society’s needs and aspirations.
2
Introduction The paper sheds some light on adult education in Zambia during the colonial era and the subsequent challenges that the country faced upon attainment of political independence. It is divided into four sections. The first section is the introduction which provides brief information on Zambia and the definition of adult education. The next section discusses the main features of both pre-colonial and colonial adult education in Zambia. The third section, which is the main thrust of the paper, discusses the challenges that adult education and the country faced soon
References: Busia, K.A. 1968. Coombe, T. 1967. Luchembe, M. 1994. Mulenga, D. C. 2000. Snelson, P. 1974. Tembo, L.P. 1978. Verner, C. 1964. Wellings, P. 1982. Whitehead, C. 2005.