Welcome to Chikuni Community Radio Station 91.8 FM

"Taonga Market" Radio School

With approximately 80% of children unable to attend school in some areas, the educational programmes that the station transmits (in conjunction with the Ministry of Education) have become very popular. Those who attend the “Taonga Market” (name for the radio school) are usually children that are unable to walk the long distances to schools (sometimes a 50 km round trip!) or carry the load of being farmers despite their young age. In such cases the locals have set up “Radio schools”. These schools use battery-less wind up radios and are run by local volunteer teachers (mentors).

There are 63 mentors in 21 outstations. The mentors help the children to follow the educational programmes/classes that are broadcast daily on the radio and do with them exercises and drills before and after the programme. Children have achieved some excellent results with many children getting top places in the National School Tests. With very simple set up, they offer children a full education up to grade seven, whilst ensuring that they are able to remain an active part of their tight knit farming communities. There are now 43 classes, with 912 pupils.

Rodwell and Maxwell, actively help in the well-being of the Radio School by monitoring radio classes.
Maxwell CHIFUWE is tourning all the centers where Radio Schools operate.
DATE OF BIRTH: 15TH JUNE 1977
PROFESSION: TEACHER
POSITION: Monitoting Officer For Intergrative Radio Instructions
INTERESTS/HOBBIES: playing soccer, reading books, listening to music.
FAVOURITE THINGS: TO BE ADVISED, SHARING IDEAS
MOTTO: ALWAYS THANKFUL FOR A LITTLE GIVEN
MAJOR INSTITUTES ATTENDED: Canisius High School, Zambia Mass Communication(Zamcom), Charles Lwanga Teachers’ Training College.
FUTURE PROSPECTS: Eradicate Illiteracy Levels In The Community, Wouldn’t Love Situation To Make A Point Of Telling Other People About My Failures And My Weaknesses.
ADVICE TO YOUTHS: It is not always important to prevent our children from hardships that they encounter because through these experiences they are able to grow on their own.
THE VALUE OF EDUCATION: I have always wanted to join the teaching career because of its diversity in its operation. To my surprise this career has made me upset by Government’s failure to reach the HIPIC completion point has worsened the situation. Since education is the key to life, graduates have embarked on destructive moments to sustain their living. My appeal to government to take positive action against these social and economic ills before every graduate deserts this donkey career.

Rodwell Haalwiindi is another professional teacher who monitors the Taonga Market School.
DATE OF BIRTH: 11TH JULY 1978
PROFESSION: TEACHER
POSITION: MONITORING OFFICER FOR IRI CHIKUNI
HOBBIES: LISTENING TO RADIO, WATCHING TV PLAYING FOOTBALL
FAVOURITE THINGS: READING BOOKS,CYCLING AND TEACHING
MOTTO: CREAT A HAPPY LEARNING ENVIROMENT SO THAT CHILDREN WILL BE POSITIVE AND EAGER.
MAJOR INSTITUTES ATTENDED: Canisius High School, Zamcom, Charles Lwanga Teachers Training College, Misa Zambia.
FUTURE PROSPECTS: Mix Freely Learners And Involve Every Child Without Having Favourites.
ADVICE TO YOUTHS: Life is a journey, many challenges are in the way, therefore, the best tool to acquire is education, remember you are the leaders of tomorrow
EDUCATION EXPERIENCE: I have completed some of the stages in education, this is not the end but the starting point. In 2002, December, I graduated from Charles Lwanga Teachers’ Training College. Unfortunately, up to now, the government has not given us any work. After experiencing all these, I have not given up yet; my aim is to obtain the last BEST in education. Remember the sky is the limit. Finally I am appealing to the government of the day in future to plan ahead in order to employ students immediately they graduate from colleges.