• Lack of free education grants in schools is dangerous.
• The Ministry of Finance has not yet sent money to schools.
• Under normal circumstances, schools were supposed to receive this money last week.

National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) says failure by Ministry of Finance to release term one free education grants to all Secondary and Primary Schools in the country is causing serious operational challenges in the learning institutions.
NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa told Money FM News that it is concerning that schools are not yet financially empowered for them to purchase necessary requisites for term one of 2023.
Mr. Chansa explained that under normal circumstances, schools were supposed to receive this money last week, for proper planning and smooth opening of schools.
“We are concerned that some days after schools opened for term one, the Ministry of Finance has not yet sent money to schools. This is dangerous, it’s causing operational challenges and a lot of panic among school managers.”
“Last year, the process of sending money to schools was very smooth and we hope that this bad beginning for 2023 is not a sign of bad things to come for schools otherwise last year was very smooth and we really appreciated what the Finance Ministry did last year,” Mr. Chansa stated.
He called on Ministry of Finance to quickly mobilize funds for schools to enable them afford hand sanitizers for learners and teachers in view of the rising Covid-19 cases.
“With the rising cases of COVID-19 cases, we appeal to the Minister of Finance to quickly mobilize funds for schools to enable schools afford hand sanitizers for learners and teachers. If the funds will not be available in schools this week, NAQEZ invites the Ministry of Finance to explain why this will be the case. Keeping mute over the matter will have potential to fuel unnecessary speculations,” he added.
When contacted for a comment, Ministry of Finance Public Relations Officer, Chileshe Kandeta referred all queries to Education Permanent Secretary Joel Kamoko, whose mobile phone went unanswered.