MYTHS AND PRACTICES OF INITIATION CEREMONIES AMONG THE BEMBA OF KASAMA DISTRICT: IMPLICATIONS ON EARLY MARRIAGES AND QUALITY EDUCATION

Abstract

For many years, the quality of education has been compromised, the performance of girls has been deteriorating .The article problematizes the myths and practices during initiation ceremonies and the implications on the delivery of quality education, it was realised that myths and practices during initiation ceremonies actually help in good moral building. The results of the research is that a considerable amount of schools has had been recording quite a number school dropout of which the majority are girls. Among other reasons, teenage pregnancies and early marriages have been cited as the main dropout causes in Kasama. This implies that, myths and practices during initiation ceremonies affect the girl’s education positively and negatively. The positive effects such as building of good morals, taking care of oneself, working hard as a girl among others, if they are accurately acquired and implemented by the initiates, then Zambia as a country will develop as people will be skill full, vigilant and knowledgeable.