THE Government has drawn-up a robust programme to roll out secondary schools in rural areas to shorten the distance pupils cover, Mines and Mineral Development Minister Christopher Yaluma has said.
Mr Yaluma has also said efforts are being made to solve the challenge of low staffing levels in rural schools across the country.
He said Government had been concerned about the distance pupils cover to access secondary schools as the reason for the upgrading of most basic schools.
“The Patriotic Front (PF) do not subscribe to the concept of basic schools ,that is the reason the Government had embarked on construction of secondary schools while upgrading some basic schools into secondary schools ,” he said when he paid a courtesy call on Rosa Mission Secondary School head teacher Thomas Yambayamba at his office on Sunday.
Mr Yaluma who is Malole Member of Parliament assured the head teacher that Government was committed to increasing staffing levels in rural schools.
Presenting the 2016 K53 billion national budget ,Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda proposed to spend K9.1 billion on education and skills development.
Of this amount, K1 billion is earmarked for various infrastructural projects in the sector, such as schools, universities and trades training institutes,
While K217.8 million is for the recruitment of an additional 5,000 teachers.
Mr Yaluma said the Government is committed to ensuring that the issue of low staffing levels especially in rural areas were resolved and commended teachers teaching in remote parts of the country for their sacrifice.
“Be assured that your Government will endeavour to make your life a little bit comfortable. We are implementing various projects such as rural electrification, rural roads and health posts all in an effort to make you people comfortable,” he said.
Briefing the area MP, Mr Yambayamba lined up many challenges facing the newly upgraded school such as lack of laboratory facilities, lack of computers and limited class room space among others.
The school is also scouting for K175, 000 out of the total K250, 000 required to build a one by three classroom bloc.
In response, Mr Yaluma said Government would soon rollout computers in schools and that part of the Constituency Development Fund would be deployed towards the building of the classroom bloc.
“Let me know the needs of the school and do not restrict your demands to the CDF,we can still look elsewhere for funding so that we lessen the burden because being proximity to schools can reduce early marriages and generally reduce the cost of education,” he said
A Mines Minister who does not comment on job losses in the mining industry but wants to talk about education! What nonsense is this?
Comment on job losses in the mining industry when he is addressing school children who know nothing about mining problems!!!!!! Your comment much less reasoning than what you are condemning this minister for. He is not addressing pupils near a mining related environment but pupils who depend on ifinkubala and mumpa with no relation to what you claim he should talk about. Muletwebako ifipalile kukusambilila kwenu so that we can be proud that this country has peopl who can analyse issues sensibly………not ifi mulesabaila ba mwisho.
Really laughable…what roll out? when you are simply upgrading basic schools plus where is the money in the budget? We all know the money allocated is less…by the way why is this empty tin Yaluma commenting on educational issues?
This is really laughable indeed. Instead of commenting on the turmoil in the mining industry, he is busy with education. Sata was right when he said my ministers are useless altho he was as well.
Yaluma was visiting one of the schools in his constituency, how unreasonable would it be to start speaking about problems to the school headteacher. Bambi mwalisambilila UKUNYA such that simple and logical issues such as this is far too complicated for you. He is part of the family in his constituency and should address issues that are close to the heart of the audience.
Minister!People re loosing jobs in the mine industry n mind u miners re the ones who contributes alot to the national treasuary bt u re busy talking abt schools moreover alot of graduated students re still in streets await GRZ to deloy them.Ba Yaluma tata concetrate ku ministry yenu,mind u elections re jst behind the corner we re going 2 vote u out ask RB wil tell u.Pipo in da mine industry re loosing jobs n bin given peanut cash.Where is the labour minster pliz.Investors re coming without giving them proper instructions,these re the results.