Education Minister heaps praise on community schools

Government says community schools play an important role in enhancing education standards in the country.

Education Minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa, said government cannot ignore the tremendous contribution community schools make in affording children with learning opportunities for basic education.

Prof Lungwangwa said his ministry appreciates the enrollment in community schools because it plays a greater role in moving towards achieving the education for all goals by 2015.

The minister was speaking in Mazabuka when he commissioned Siyowi Basic school which was built with funds donated by Irish nationals.

A total of seven classrooms, two teachers houses and four Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines have been built at a cost of K 1.2 billion.

Prof Lungwangwa said the total enrollment in grades one to seven was 448,461, representing 17 per cent of the total figures for 2006.

He further explained that in 2007, grades one to seven enrollment countrywide was 2,822,759 and 490,240 pupils were from community schools, representing 17.3 per cent.

Prof Lungwangwa observed that the contribution of community schools to the overall enrollment in schools cannot be down played.

He said government is pursuing the private public partnership in the provision of quality education to school-going children and will welcome and support such partnership.

Prof Lungwangwa said the support received from Irish nationals as individuals despite the biting world economic financial crunch has cheered the Zambian government.

And Prof Lungwangwa said the selfless spirit and sacrifice by the individuals will enable more than 600 boys and girls receive quality education at the learning institution.

The minister also directed Mazabuka District Education Board Secretary, Darius Kaluba, to ensure priority is given to the school when the district receives desks and teachers.

Speaking earlier, Mazabuka Mayor, Shaderick Mwiinga, urged other Non governmental Organizations (NGOs)and well-wishers to emulate individuals from Ireland by donating generously towards the plight of pupils at the school.

Mr Mwiinga also urged government to resolve the shortage of desks in most learning institutions.

He said currently pupils were sitting on the floor.

ZANIS