17th August, 2011 
Government officers and executives have to take personal pride in finding solutions to problems just the same way as corporate executives should feel pride when they solve market or operational problems strictly through hard thinking.
Even if there is no market incentive in government, the incentive of simply becoming more efficient at exercising one’s brain should inspire someone to think hard about cracking the problems faced by their institutions, no matter what kind it is. Humans are simply designed to derive the highest satisfaction and pleasure from this process, perhaps because they are the only animal with a thinking capacity.
In this article, I want to give another practical example of a problem that I think could be solved creatively. My aim in demonstrating this is simply to show those who are willing to change their way of work that this process is easier than they think — if they can simply practice it habitually. I should also warn that my suggestions here may be very wrong — it is sometimes much easier to give solutions from outside because one doesn’t know some of the obstacles faced by those inside. But even if I am very wrong, I hope that the point will be made that solutions to apparently intractable problems can always be found by taking a different approach to work — from simply going through the usual routines to breaking into new answers.
There has been a lot of talk in Zambia about the huge problem of examination leakages in our secondary schools and how this problem has apparently escaped government efforts to combat it. Officials in the ministry of education concerned with this have been sending many messages to the public and to school kids to try to convince them that such dishonest practices are bad for the country.
But the problem has not been reducing; in some places it is even getting worse. There are now many kids with very good grade twelve results (including the famous “six points”) which was almost unheard of some years ago. Many of these good results are clearly a result of cheating through the same leaked exam questions, but it is difficult to prove in any particular case. And when these kids go to the university, they simply get into those courses in the humanities which are easy to sail through because of their highly subjective nature (the sort of subjects in which the lecturer says there is no right answer!); or they continue with their habit of cheating by just bribing some lecturers (that’s the rumour anyway). The big social cost comes when such kids graduate from the university and are unleashed on the Zambian workforce — they have to start making important decisions in government or other organizations.
Some of the kids who were smarter but too honest (or too poor) to buy the leaked examination papers have to just helplessly watch as they see their dumb friends take their places at the university of Zambia and other institutions of higher learning.
So, why aren’t the messages about “the dangers of cheating” being sent out by government not working? Should they continue sending the same messages every year in the hope that one day the kids will listen and stop buying these leaked papers?
When an organization has not cultivated a system of innovative thinking, the only choice they have is to continue doing the same thing over and over again, to continue thinking in a linear way and to just throw more money at the problem.
But what if they tried to think just a little differently?
What would happen if, for example, the Ministry of Education told the University of Zambia to have special entry tests for all the first years? These could just be high school level tests in all the general subjects taken by all the students in high school. If someone fails these tests, they are simply rejected and someone on the waiting list is called to try (a different set of similar level tests).
What this means is that the pupils in the twelfth grade will have no incentive for cheating their way past the grade 12 exams. They will know that even if they pass well at grade 12, they will still have to write some other test which they know nothing about before they could be accepted into the university.
The main advantage of this entry exam is that it is almost possible for it to be leaked, because it’s much easier to manage the tests in one institution compared to tests going all over the country.
The administration can sit down to discuss what sorts of questions should be in there. To make it easier for them (since they have to do this every year), they could probably just compile random questions from different grade 12 papers over the last twenty years or so. Even a computer program can easily compile such questions through a random algorithm, selecting the questions from a huge database of questions going back over many years.
I am sure that the kids would have no incentive to cheat in grade 12 especially given the shame they would feel if they fail to be accepted into UNZA after getting six points! But even if there were kids who would still cheat, it won’t matter because this won’t take them anywhere: the university places will be taken up by the best kids.
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chanda I dont think the problem is that Zambians are not aware of the problems or that they dont have several possible solutions to each one of them.Zambians enjoy things the way they are. they are reluctant to change the status quo. which is unfortunate.this situation allows for a few people to accidentally make it in life wtihout any formular to show for their success. Cheating and kubeula is the order of the day no wonder our women are the most frequently nabbed for drugs abroad. in Zambia we need the police to be bribable because we set out to make it using underhand methods and not any tested and lawful means. we need to bribe our way out in case we are caught. we complain badly when we go to other countries where police are uncompromising.back home if you place undercover cops on abus to Lilanda or Busakile we will beat them up. we cannot introduce university entry exams because our own child might fail them after all that is how we also made it through.it is no wonder that the country has failed to come up with a constitution – the general guide to problem solving. when we get to power and we find the constitution enables us to manipulate things to our benefit and to the disadvantage of others we want the document to stay. the converse applies. we are a very backward society and things need to change from there if at all they can change. poorly managed healthcare, garbage collection, education, municipal services education. just about everything. even the way we manage our personal incomes is a mess. maybe that is what keeps some people away in the diaspora but I really wish we can adress this deep running backwardness
Lubasi,I disagree with you.All you’ve done is accept the status quo…IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE…we need to change, beginning with our individual attitudes, in thought, word and deed…If these are the things that have been happening,THEY NEED TO STOP!Zambians need to wake up from slumber,establish their priorities…we grown-ups need to put into practise what we want our children and their children to imbibe from OUR ACTIONS and not words!…beginning in our families where parents need to be there for their children…the workplace, do we perform to the best of our abilities?…what values do we have?…are we plants that have roots, deep roots, well nourished…without roots a plant dies…our children, do they know who they are? DO WE? What exactly does it mean to be a Zambian? WHO IS A ZAMBIAN?…Do we have an identity?…WE NEED TO KNOW THESE THINGS in order for us to move forward as a nation…We need leadership that can SERVE SELFLESSLY,by example,in thought, word, and deed… to show the masses which way forward…ALL HANDS NEED TO BE ON DECK, from the top to the bottom..everyone must WORK to better the other, and in so doing we better ourselves collectively…We need to stop our destructive behaviours,…and imbibe healthy ones…everything should not be in terms of MONEY…job satisfaction, for WORK well done,the good done for the other should be the motto…I’m willing to WORK for my country for these ideals,…
I was in zed in the 1st quarter of this year. I visited one of the Indian shops in Lusaka, opposite city centre market along ChaChaCha road and found cookers and refrigerators made in Zimbabwe. I was in awe that Zimbabwe could do that despite their turmoil. Am not oblivious to the fact that Zimbabwe has a better industrial base than us, but, for crying out loud, this is an indication that despite their chaos, they got it right and can easily catapult up the ladder to their rightful place once they stabilized. It`s ludicrous that in Zambia, We could import trivial products such as HB pencils from countries like Tanzania.What we need in Zed is a leadership with Objectivity, Vision, will, Zeal and one capable of inculcating in our work fabric a culture of integrity and hard work (pays). In today`s global economy and competitiveness, the least we can afford is either backpedaling or stagnation. What we need is savvy young men and women well equipped with high tech skills in manufacturing, technology etc, and offering them good incentives and a congenial work environment to keep them grounded back home. The upside to our land-lockedness, being surrounded by 8 countries is that we have a gaping market where we can sell our locally manufactured high and low end (Made in Zambia) products. There is no excuse as this is not insurmountable. The fact is we are capable of making our case and woo direct Capital investment. We can get it right people and the time is ripe and it is now. Let’s do this thing. Way to go PF
I totally agree with Rosemary. Way to go! With every mind I meet such as hers, it builds my hope that Zambia will one day reach the glory days it deserves. With hardwork and determination, we’ll get there. Lets go Zambia, never lose hope!
The TWO THINGS needed are a SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE and LOWCOST FINANCE.
In fact Zambia has already a long list of entrepreneurs like Carl Irwin of Zambeef and Melcome (Mobile Phone assembly).
WE just need thousands more especially the locals.
GOOD ARTICLE, MAY GOOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
I’m watch live: Zambia vs Libya at http://vibeghana.com/watch-libya-vs-zambia-live-african-cup-of-nations/ I hope Zambia wins