• Out of K2.1 billion appropriated for schools in 2022, NAQEZ pleads with Ministry of Finance to release more money.
• It is not enough to release only K324 million for the first term.
• The recruitment of the 30,000 new teachers is now more important than ever before.
National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has called on Ministry of Finance to release more money for schools which have received inadequate funds for the first term.
Organization Executive Director Aaron Chansa told Money FM News that it is not enough to release only K324 million for the first term because some schools will fail to run this term.
Mr. Chansa also urged Government to urgently make Constituency Development Fund (CDF) available to communities so that part of the money can be used to buy desks, expansion of classroom spaces and construction of teachers’ houses.
“Before the free education policy, the public education sector had a shortage of more than 1.3 million desks. Today, the need for desks has become a national emergency. Scenes of learners sitting on the floor, whilst learning are disturbing and must never be associated with the new dawn Government.”
“The entire Africa is waiting to see how Zambia shall deliver the free education to its people. It is either we shall emerge as a glittering example on this score or as a nation that will fail to manage a good educational policy,” Mr. Chansa said.
He stated that effects of the free education policy, if not properly managed, will have serious short term, medium term and long term educational scars in the country, noting that the unprecedented overcrowding in classes has threatened the very essence of attending school.
Mr. Chansa added that the overwhelming response to the free education policy is making the teacher/ pupil ratio in classes much more unhealthy.
“The recruitment of the 30,000 new teachers is now more important than ever before,” he added.
