WHEN the COVID-19 pandemic struck his rural community, Dalab Zimba, the headmaster of a local private school knew that if his students did not pass the year, his school would fail financially. So he came up with a novel, if extreme, measure to keep his students up to date.
Lacking the infrastructure needed to apply remote learning via the Internet, he simply used himself as the network. Masked and remaining outdoors, Zimba would visit the school’s students one by one, walking vast distances across the countryside in northeastern Zambia to distribute teaching materials and ensure that they were able to maintain their grades through the pandemic.
“The pandemic really disturbed us in the private sector. For government workers, they could stay home without teaching and still have a salary at the end of the month. So I was also thinking of my teachers and myself by continuing to teach students at their homes,” Zimba said.
It may have been due to pure necessity but the community has never forgotten the extreme lengths Zimba went to, in order to educate their children during the pandemic. Some of the schoolchildren lived as far as 5km from Zimba’s home. Yet he managed to make regular calls.
Today, Covid is relegated to just one of a number of obstacles that have stood in the way of the headmaster of Chachacha Primary School. His personal journey is a testament to an unwavering dedication to education. At just 28 years old, this headmaster with a passion for nurturing young minds had very little experience when he was given responsibility for the community’s education.
From Volunteer to Leader
Zimba’s journey into teaching was inspired by a dedicated teacher who mentored him after he completed his secondary education in the village. The surrounding community and the multitude of eager learners at the school fuelled his determination to pursue a diploma in Education. The community rallied behind him, sponsoring his tertiary education. After completing his Diploma in Primary Education through distance learning at Nkhrumah University, Zimba was further driven by his passion for nurturing young minds and uplifting his community.
The young man’s teaching journey commenced in 2015 when he served as a volunteer teacher at Chachacha, under the guidance of the school’s founder. When the founder was transferred to a school in the country’s Chipata District, she entrusted Zimba with the responsibility of carrying on her legacy. At the time, the school had no physical infrastructure to speak of.
“My journey was profoundly influenced by my mentor Oline Gwenzi and her husband Sunday Nketani. She gave me the opportunity to lead the school… The couple instilled hope and ignited my passion for education,” he explained.
Undeterred by the challenge, the young Zimba, who today also supports a family that comprises his wife and two children. took up the challenge and embarked on the tough task of transforming the school. He recruited volunteer teachers who poured their hearts into their work, leading the school to victory in numerous zonal and district competitions.
When he arrived at the school, it had a modest enrollment of 32 learners in its Early Childhood Education class. Over the years, this number has steadily grown, and today the school boasts an enrolment of 280 learners, a lifeline for many children who otherwise could not access education, as it is the closest school in the district. The school has also had to find ways to subsidise many of the learners.
“Parents of each learner pay 110 kwacha (about US$5.19) per school term. But you’ll find that nine children are coming from one household so if you multiply that 110 by 9, it’s too much for one household here,” Zimba explained.
Luckily, Chachacha is set in a region of Zambia renowned for its fertile land. So, in addition to his educational endeavours, Zimba became an avid farmer, using his agricultural pursuits to sustain his family and support the school. A flourishing garden and poultry operation contribute not only to his household income but also to the remuneration of the school’s teachers.
Vision for the Future: Empowering Youth Leadership
According to Zimba, his vision extends beyond the walls of the school. He aspires to see Zambian youth take leadership roles in various sectors of the economy, including education, road construction, and healthcare. He firmly believes that youth-led development can lead to significant economic improvements and improved living standards.
While the advent of remote learning has had minimal impact on the school, which continues to employ traditional teaching methods with teachers physically present in the classroom, Zimba envisions innovation in education as essential to raising educational standards, emphasizing the importance of a dedicated teaching workforce in delivering quality education and fostering an educated citizenry.
In his pursuit to improve school infrastructure, Zimba has taken up brickmaking for constructing new school buildings. Currently, the school has two blocks, each with three classrooms
Expanding Educational Horizons: The Vision for a Comprehensive School
Looking to the future, Zimba today dreams of expanding the school to offer education from pre-school to secondary levels. He has already engaged with influential individuals, including his area Member of Parliament, Misheck Nyambose, who is impressed by his ideas and has connected him with the Ward Development Committee for potential funding.
“I hope these funds will facilitate the construction of additional classrooms and teacher accommodation, ultimately motivating the teaching staff,” Zimba said.
Zimba added that while the resources have been meagre, his teachers appreciate that there is some compensation at the end of each month.
In addition, Chachacha Primary School has received funding from non-governmental organisations, like USAID.
“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Let’s Read Project for their invaluable support, providing materials, equipping us with tablets and equipping us with tablets, enabling us to gauge our performance through empirical evidence via standardised literacy assessments. Also, through unwavering determination, our school gained recognition from UNICEF, resulting in the provision of extra teaching and learning materials. These strides affirm our path towards progress,” he disclosed.
Throughout his journey, the surrounding communities of Chama town have rallied behind Zimba’s mission to develop the school. The community has actively supported school construction efforts by producing bricks and contributing to the school’s growth.
Legacy of Dedication: Dalab Zimba’s Impact
Dalab Zimba’s teaching career has been marked by both successes and challenges. Under his leadership, Chachacha Primary School has witnessed outstanding academic achievements. His dedication to education and agriculture has not only enriched his life but has also made a profound impact on the students and community he serves, exemplifying the transformative power of education and commitment to one’s community.
“My hope for Chachacha is to have a boarding school and to one day own a college to make it easier for the communities around to access school from reception to college,” Zimba concluded.
