We want to go back to school, cry Kabwe Pupils

KETRA KALUNGA writes SCHOOL-GOING children in Kabwe district have urged the government to consider re-opening schools for fear of engaging themselves in bad behavior as a result of being at home for a long time. The learners who are in primary school said they would like to go back to school because they have stayed without learning for a long time. Speaking in separate interviews with The SUN, they feared that if the closure of schools is pro-longed they would pick up bad habits such as drinking alcohol and smoking dagger among others. Bernard Chipasha, a grade 5 pupil of Katondo township said he has missed school because being at school helped him think positively about life and the future. He also feared that mixing with people who drink alcohol in the community for a long would impact negatively on his behavior. Bernard said unlike being in the community where there are a number of bad activities, he would rather be at school thinking about constructive things. “I want the government to reopen schools that my cry, we are spending a lot of time in the community where there are a lot of people drinking and smoking cigarettes, will also end up drinking beer and smoking cigarettes,” said Bernard Another pupil, Mapalo Lungu in Grade six said if schools remained closed for a long time, most school-going children would end up engaging themselves in bad behavior. “Because of being in the community for a long time will end up misbehaving, drinking beer, and also stoking cigarettes because we are spending a lot of people with people who do that,” said Mapalo. Sham Kalunga said because of being in the community for a long time after the closure of schools, most learners would find it hard to pick up academically once schools reopen. The government closed schools in March this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have allowed leaners in the examination classes to go back to school. The Sun