Opinion In Zimbabwe, there’s a correct form for everything. Forms to enter the country, forms to exchange currency, forms tO visit government offices — which are guarded by armed security — and forms allowing a visiting Canadian journalist to including those of urban profes- sionals, do not contain books. Books are expensive, costing $10 for a paperback. Most are British or American publications, of little interest to Africans. But the major obstacle 1s atti- tude. “Zimbabweans don’t go to school to learn, they go to get a good job,” says Bindura lawyer Elrich Mhlanga. They don’t read for pleasure and seldom read after finishing school. A Zimbabwean will save for a tclevision set before spending money on books, Mhlanga said. Conversations with Zimbab- weans revealed both the lack of widespread reading and the strin- gent school examination system. When discussing issues, many Zimbabweans repeatedly idenu- ficd one side of an argument as “right” and expected me to do the same. Several umes I suggested that different arguments may be Shades of gray from the printed word industrial revolution. Only recently has education become widely accessible for the black majority. Since independence in 1980, the number of secondary schools has grown to over 1,500 from 117 and plans are underway to expand the DR. FREDERICK G. DAY F.R.C.S. (Canada), F.R.C.S. (Scotland), F.1.C.S. M.Ch. Orth. is continuing to practice Orthopaedic Surgery at 202-9755 4th St., Sidney, B.C. Please phone 656-5441 or 656-5218 for appointment (Liverpool) | important Notice to B.C.Tel Customers TheReview in a NewsLink journalist exchange to promote literacy. It was sponsored by the Canadian Organization for Development through Education and the Cana- dian Community Newspapers Association. Wednesday, February 13, 1991 — AA littler than an elephant but this ad performs before more than 35,000 people. Call Display 656-1151. - Our experience shows on you. Suzanne Morgan dropped 18 pounds in 8 weeks! Diet Center® 20th Anniversary Offer Get Your First Week FREE! temporarily ply her trade. equally might, depending on the University of Zimbabw G ? Moreover, all forms must be Circumstances and individual’s second ants seo ee ST. PAUL S UNITED CHURCH, MALAVIEW SIDNEY completed perfectly. If a mistake is Although there are charges for Return Visit made, the entire form is discarded education, the levies are compara- THE and the process is started all over tively low, especially at the pri- again with a new sheet of paper. mary level. As a result, 76 per cent CONCENTI SINGERS ee saw — of paper of the adult population is esti- Directed by iscarded when a simple cormec- mated to have achieved basic liter- tion would have saved time and acy. oe een JIM & SHEILA JOHNSON paper. Yet Zimbabwe suffers from But reading is so new that many Vocal Magic of ihe Highest Order H ee ee edo Zimbabweans give the printed FRIDAY 22nd FEBRUARY — 7:30 PM. — newsprint required annually. e = ees ee oe ee 9 Reception follows Concert All Tickets at the Door a Paper 1s not recycled. Blessed with plentiful natural : This ee oe Velone oS Tesources, intelligent, cheerful and - t0rms mirrors the Zimbabwe neat hardworking people and a govern- school system, which is heavily = ment whch ue ahich city on ae NOTARIES PUBLIC Ear based on rote learning and tests, education, Zimbabwe may have might up to the dreaded “O” and the greatest potential of Afri- = = oe Wee Sree es Conveyancing ** Mortgages ** Wills Successful completion of these ; : : But to make the shift from a ‘Powers of Attorney aS Promissory Notes exams, set and marked by Cam- POHL of view. My hosts listened developing nati developed ] xx ] bridge University in England, will Politely, then insisted I tell’ them OZ ae mae willed Hens Mebile Wome Tansters oF Sian, S ? 2 2 coe 2? > WV n Wi nee = 5 7 = determine the student’s chance of a side was right. black and WO than the basic ability to read Residential Building Contracts oe Fax a decent job. ssues were seen in black an 5 5 kk 3 ak TG AL cue point a studen’s whote While, not in the shades of gray 204 waite Services Title Services ™ Title Searches future hinged on a single day of Wiich result from considering dif —= Affidavits ** Personal Property Registry Writing exams, Rural Newspapers ferent ideas. Issues were 3221) Hf) Project executive director Wilf Given the exam-based school black and white, not Mbanga said. Now students who es re ae en in the shades of gray fail have the option of re-writing 2 [ a See ee Ge oe Zimbabweans had little exposure whic A result from + currency ic available to pay the to the multiplicity of thought taken Sonsel2ing SUED 3 cxamination fees. : for granted in Canada. 5 [1D Still, 80 per cent of students The focus on the “right” answer writing the exams fail. was echoed in the filling out of : “We have a massive failure at forms: each form had to be com- _A_ new level of literacy and the third year of secondary pleted correctly as ordained in €ducation, advocating cmitical and school,” says Bill Louw, senior order to be acceptable. creative thinking, will be required oy lecturer at the University of Zim- This emphasis on correct form {or the complexity of a developed z babwe: no doubt makes the transition ation. : : He blames the high failure rate {rom an agrarian economy to a In 25 yeas Zimbabwe ts LAP RIE A DOn Ss SUSDN BEAVIS on low literacy skills. For most 20th Century state easier since attempting to achieve the indus- SNe S2AGON NJ2y SNINEY BSI students, English is a second lan- Strict guidelines govern many tial and social shifts which guage associated with school and aCtvilies. Ogeteed In Wesise SUFDPS ONer exams. At home, most speak either Journalist Trish Mbanga likened a 250-year period. : ° @nN?: Shona or Ndebele, the two major Zimbabwe’s current development Lennox returned fr om Zim- The Diet Center Difference indigenous languages. to the social upheaval of England’s babwe Feb. 3, after participating Many Zimbabwean homes, @ After 20 years, Diet Center® Arrows what works. We've helped over 4 million peo- ple lose weight successfully. Let us put our experience to work for you—with real food choices, personal support and the flexibility to achieve real, lasting results. Call us today! The difference is real. 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