Education authorities in Shiwang’andu District have revealed that records from last year show that from various learning institutions over eight thousand pupils in the region abandoned classes to catch caterpillars.
District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Katele Kalale says the trend has continued hence the academic calendar for the said learners is affected.
Mr. Kalale adds, that to deal with the problem school authorities have been instructed to regularly engage parents against allowing their children to accompany them to catch the caterpillars from forests.
This came to light when Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Elias Mubanga visited three schools in Shiwang’andu District.
Caterpillars locally known as a ifishimu are a delicacy widely sold in Zambian markets after they are caught and traditionally dried, hence the seasonal breeding of butterflies produces an edible larva, which is a source of income for poor rural communities.
By Diamond Chitalu