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Nkasi students complain of `harassment` by science teachers
2008-05-12 09:33:50
By Patrick Kisembo
Nkasi Secondary School arts students have complained over what they have termed as `stigma and psychological torture` inflicted upon them by science teachers and students.
Investigations by this reporter recently, revealed that complaints began to emerge after the government announced its increased commitment towards strengthening science education.
Education authorities have since come out with plans to encourage students to pursue science subjects at all levels.
The school`s Head Prefect, Alexander Kanondo, told this reporter that, science teachers have become arrogant towards arts students, considering them to be less intelligent in comparison to their science counterparts.
``Some of us have poor foundation in science subjects. We cannot take science subjects because we cannot perform better at the end of the day,`` he said.
Kanondo, who was accompanied by the Acting Headmistress, Fatma Mubaraka, said there were few science teachers at the school.
One teacher is compelled to teach all classes - from Form One to Form Four.
``Unfortunately some science teachers are very slow in teaching, a factor which discourages some students,`` he said.
One of the students now in Form Four, Augusta Chasi, said most students had poor science background.
``We spent the whole of Form Two, for example, without a Biology teacher. How can one opt for science subjects when s/he knows that her/his performance will be poor?`` she lamented.
The Acting Head Mistress admitted to have received the students` complaints over psychological torture inflicted by science teachers.
``We had been experiencing the same complaints even from students taking science subjects over those studying arts subjects. But we are trying to handle the situation with care,`` she said.
In order to solve the problem, Mubaraka, who is also the school matron, said the school management has organised a meeting between teachers and students to sort out the matter.
Recently, the deputy Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Gaudentia Kabaka announced government`s renewed commitment to address the shortage of science professionals by encouraging more students to study science subjects.
Kabaka said the country needed a qualified pool of scientists and physicians and therefore reiterated the desire to enhance efforts in promoting the study of science subjects in schools.
Studies also show that many students shy away from science subjects because of poor foundation and lack of teaching and learning facilities.
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