Government says the country has continued narrowing the gender gap in both basic and high school education.
Education Minister Professor, Geoffrey Lungwangwa, said government has in particular managed to reduce the gender gap in enrollment at lower basic school level.
Prof. Lungwangwa said this when he officiated at the national symposium on girls education in Zambia dubbed ‘equalizing opportunities for girls education in Zambia’ held at Cresta Golf View Hotel in Lusaka today.
He attributed the progress to the partnership between government and other stakeholders such as traditional leaders, development agencies, NGO’s and responsive communities among others.
Prof. Lungwangwa said government is happy that many stakeholders have now united to reject negative attitudes and practices which offend the dignity of both females and males in education.
The minister noted that the crusade for Education For All has gained momentum resulting in strong political and donor will.
He added that among the positive outcomes of the political and donor will are the removal of school fees at lower and middle basic school levels and the provision of financial and material support to orphans and vulnerable children.
Earlier, Forum for African Educationalists of Zambia, FAWEZA, National Chairperson, Lilian Kapulu, said education plays a central role in safeguarding girls’ access and secure human rights.
Mrs Kapulu, who is also Education Permanent Secretary, said FAWEZA will remain committed to the advocacy campaign for educational policies and programmes that promote gender equality.
She said the commitment of the organization is based on the commitment that Zambia was part of the international community that pledged to achieve gender equality in education by 2015.
And speaking in a petition on behalf of girls in the country, Kabulonga Girls Pupil, Mary Wamala, challenged government to invest in building infrastructure that is user friendly to girls.
She said some girls dormitories especially in rural areas lack proper sanitary conditions that do not favor a conducive learning environment for the girl child.
Everyone has a right to good quality Education wheather male of female.so govt that’s a great news,but that’s not enough it has to be on the same level.
Everyone has a right to good quality Education wheather male of female.so govt that’s a great news,but that’s not enough it has to be on the same level.Hope the gap will be closed soon.
#1 Lungwangwa is joking. Most schools in the rural areas girls stop school in grade 4. Very few would reach to grade 7.
Mat, correction. I was hoping to be #1
5th
THIS NUMBER ONE THING IS CHILDISH AND SENSELESS. I THING WE DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN HERE EXCEPT FOR PF SUPPORTER WHO ACTS SOMETIMES LIKE THE LACK RESONING.WE KNOW YOU THOUGH THATS ALL YOU ARE CAPABLE OF DOING.
Ba pushi just improve the education system. This gender equality is just a joke. why do girls have lower cut of points than boys and they can also get into UNZA with lower marks than boys. If you guys want gender equality give both girls and boys equal opportunities. Same cut of points and pass mark into university.
This is very unfair to the boys who work hard to get high marks only to loose out to a girls who got lower marks than him. It is just rubish. It is not our problem that girls have a lower IQ than boys.
FAWEZA is a scam just like many other organisations who just want to make money.
Just let the girls concentarte in what they are good at doing.
GOVT TO INTRODUCE ALL GIRLS CLASSES AND ALL BOYS CLASSES AT ALL CO-EDUCATION SECONDARY SCHOOLS, THIS CAN ENHANCE INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE FOR SOME PUPILS.WE AS ZAMBIANS CAN DO OUR OWN RESEARCH IN EDUCATION INSTEAD OF DEPENDING ON FORIEGN RESEARCHES.LET US BE ORIGINAL ,AT SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL, I STUDIED THE GREAT LAKES OF THE USA ,THE PRAIRRIES OF CANADA AND THE PAMPAS OF ARGENTINA WHICH HAVE NO USE FOR OUR COUNTRY,HWY NOT STUDY THE PLAINS OF KALABO ,THE JIVUNDU FOREST OF MUFUMBWE (CHIZELA),THE RAPIDS IN CHAVUMA AND THE FLOODING OF THE ZAMBEZI AND HOW THESE AFFECT THE ZAMBIA-LET US WOKE UP.
Bane let’s be careful with this girl child issue, promoting girl child upliftment is not bad in it’s entirety, but should not be at expense of the boy child! every day its girls girls en girls! USA started this propaganda in the 60s and they are reaping “fruits ” now. MOST LADIES HOLD STRATEGIC POSITIONS WHILE GUYS ARE EITHER THUGS OR MERE LABOURERS
Co-education is bad for girl child education. If this is their approach then kaya, its not gona work. It will just oppress the girl child. Let them be in their girls schools.
Iwe Lungwangwa, There is nothing new you are telling us. This talk of always the girl child is getting on my nerves. The boy child’s existence is being threatened now. Let the govt set the same passing marks in schools for both boys and girls. That is when we can use words like “narrowing the gap”. and can the little girl who gave a vote of thanks kindly assist the minister by designing a pit laterine which will be user friendly for the girl child?
Any figures? Like numbers?
girls are favoured coz of various reasonable issues guys. our culture does’nt favour girl child education. when a girl goes home she’s bound to find all sorts of chores waiting for her till she puts her head on the pillow at night, for guys they have all the time in the world to study. this is just one of the many reasons why cut off points for girls are lower.
7 & 11 i agree with you,let a girl be uplifted on merit,let equality should mean level grounds,these profit making orgns like FAWEZA makes me wonder were the world is going to,let a girl perform if this issue of genda is to be accepted.