Government has directed that school heads across the country should adhere to the free education policy from grades 1 to 7.
Ministry of Education and Specialized Services Director Ruth Mubanga said in this vein pupils should not pay any user fees towards education because Government’s policy on free education was very clear.
Ms Mubanga observed that some school Head Teachers were collecting funds from pupils thereby frustrating Government’s efforts in delivering free education.
The Education Director said this in Kapiri-Mposhi today during her conducted tour of schools in Central Province.
Mrs. Mubanga warned that any head teacher found collecting money from pupils risked being disciplined, because government was making everything possible to attract parents to send their children to school.
Mrs. Mubanga also directed District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) to ensure that Government policy on provision of quality education is adhered to.
A visit by the Director at Lukanda Basic School in Kapiri-Mposhi revealed that pupils were paying K15,000 per term towards education contrary to Government regulations.
And Mrs Mubanga has directed District Education Board Secretaries to intensify Government’s re-entry policy for pregnant school girls to return to school after delivery.
Mrs. Mubanga regretted the poor education performance at most schools in Central Province.
Mrs Mubanga is in Central province on a familiarisation tour of school infrastructure in the province.
She is accompanied by Senior government officials from the Ministry of Education.
ZANIS/ENDS/KC/EML/CLM
How about free pencil or pens and books? We used to get them for free in my primary time and our children need them too that way.
Free education but you tell them to buy Toilet paper? We shall be paying indirectly by buying the above and Floor polish
There is nothing free in this world. All the government is doing is collect your money, through taxes, buy the stuff on your behalf and give it back to you. How do you call that free. Its amazing how voters easily buy into this false political rhetoric.
And # 1, you sound like you have also fallen for this. Yes, but tell me that you never paid school fees during your time. I did. If I remeber well, I lived in a time when school fees were 75 ngwee per term. Yes, books and pencils were given to us but I wouldn’t call them free.
Maybe someone should help define the extent to which ‘free education’may be free in our context in Zambia. There is a very big gap between the policy and it’s implementation for sure. Fund the schools adequately through your office madam Mubanga. Moreover what about the moneys demanded through PTA meetings? Aint they contradicting the ‘free education policy?’
i was one of the pipo on the sadc region team that sat spear heading free education for member countries and girl child being one of the programs.this began at a meeting in maputo in 1999 and funded by UNICEF.education was to be free to grade 12. but when we made our project proposal (zambia),we made it to be done in stages,so began with grades 1 to 7, 9& 10, as the program continues to be implemented grades also pregressed.at that FTJ was in office and it was a strugle to get the project presented to relevant govt dept so finally managed to present it to FTJ after overlooking sec to state house as he was another obstacle. he gave us an audience & pleasant indeed to discuss with him.
Suppergal
That was a progressive achievement. Perhaps what seems to be troubling our minds with the ‘free education’ policy is that we seem to neglect the service provider i.e. the teacher, at the expense of the recipient. I would be much more comfortable with a situation where teachers conditions are improved, and more emphasis laid as you say on girl child and female literacy, without of course neglecting the male mainstream.
Well done nevertheless. So you are best placed to advise the next President of the way forward. Have you noticed how Professor Lungwangwa has fared?
there alot of things that need be done right.the distribution of resources in the education sector (human and material resources)
we have enough teachers but schools are not mantained in most school they dont have labs.all these this affect the quality of education. female literacy is ofcourse to encourage more women and girls to compete with boys at all levels of education which has improved in the last yrs.its sad that if you are outside politics working with politicaly apointed pipo is almost imposible as they look at you as a competitor not partner.i hope we get to a level were we can work with our politicians at a none political base
WHEN PUPILS ARE ASKED TO PAY THAT AMOUNT ITS FOR LOGISTICS AND BUYING THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE B4 THE NEXT QUARTER OF BUDGET ALLOCATION ITS AN AGREEMENT BTWEEN THE PTA THATS WHY YOU FIND THE SCHOOLS ARE IN POOR STATE HOW MUCH DOES THE GOVT GIVE THE MINISTRY TO SUSTAIN THEM TILL THE END OF THE YEAR WHY DONT YOU THEN DISCOURAGE REGISRATION FEES AT SCHOOL ENTRY YOU PPL FACE FACTS YOU ARE NOT RICH ENOUGH TO MEET EVERY NEEDS OF A PARTICULAR SKUL AM SURE THE HEADMASTER JUSTIFIES THAT 15K
im told that some prohet from Nigeria dream that in one country in Africa if people vote for a wrong person there will be a civil wall….
in explaining the prophecy its like if people vote for either SATA or RB there will be a a civil war.
come on peace loving Zambian… vote HH and keep the PEACE
on the HAND vote HH for PRESIDO
Suppergal The idea of working with politicians at a similar perspective is the raison d etre of formation of councils. Ward councillors were supposedly better placed to pool local policy and decision making in their communities and hence their election every 5 years. However, most if not all of these fellas – especially in rural councils, come hungry from the surrounding villages. They place food issues foremost, and hence you may have heard councillors making representation to NCC for gratuity for instance, or increased sitting allowances, etc. The other thing, councillors are usually not oriented well to be effective in policy making, or M&E. That is your councils are a social evil.
Suppergal
Let it be put on record that I am for a local government sector reform process. It is a pity that none of three candidates above are even aware of the extent to which councils are disproportinate to the needs of Zambias development. The reforms in Local Governement must address the key principle of a) institutional sustainability, b) legal appropriateness c) relevance to communtiy development d) restructuring and realignment e) funding mechanisms.
For me, the longer the takes the longer it wil take to develop Zambia. On the extreme end of the spectrum, I am for complete federalism by Province.
thats why we need HHH…….viva mu chikasa!!!
WE need an economic manager like HH not people like Sata Kabova Chilufya 90 days and Rupiah Bwezani sleepy Banda.Vote HH Viva Pakuboka Viva !