The Basic Education Teachers Union (BETUZ) has described as false the UPND’s election promise that it will introduce free education up to university level.
At a recent campaign rally in Chinsali, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema reiterated his pledge that he will introduce free education from primary to university level if elected into office.
But in an interview, BETUZ President Cosmas Mukuka contended that the UPND is only making such pronouncements to woo voters ahead of the August elections.Mr Mukuka said it is a well-known fact that even providing the current free primary education has been a tall order for the government which makes it almost impossible for any administration to escalate free education up to tertiary level.
He said if the UPND was to introduce free education, it would greatly compromise the quality of education.
“The truth is that these are lies. No government can implement free education. It is too costly. The UPND is just trying to sugar coat things in order to win votes. It can’t give free education. It simply can’t,” Mr Mukuka said.
He observed that the failing standards of education in the public sector currently is due in part to reduced spending by government.
“There are too many competing needs and a government should create a policy that compels parents and those that can afford to contribute something to the education of their children. The government alone simply can’t.”
“Maybe a free education policy in rural areas where people don’t work can at least work best and not everywhere. In urban areas where people are working, they should at least pay something,” he said.
Mr Mukuka who is also Zambia Congress of Trade Unions General Secretary has since appealed to politicians to be honest as they canvass for votes.
“This thing of telling lies is not good. This promise of free education is a lie which can’t be implemented,” he said.
According to the 2016 budget allocations, the education sector received K 9.1 billion in 2016 from which was 17.2 of the total budget from K9.4 billion allocated in 2015 which represented 20.2 percent of the total budget.This was the lowest allocation six years.
Oh yes!! HH is such a desperate politician. His promises are not feasible. They are detrimental to a weak economy like ours. How does he expect to fund free fertilizer and free education like he has promised? In bemba we call characters like HH as “Chanda Bupele, uwalaile imfumu umusengele wachela.” He is a bag of empty promises.
Mediocre teacher with a mediocre attitude and expectation. I just wonder what Kind of pupils he produces. All these things that HH is talking about like free education (by the way it is to deserving and needy children only) and free 8 bags of fertilizer to farmers are things that are very doable and which can bring about good results if implemented in a systematic way. It is only POLITICAL WILL and WRONG PRIORITIES why we don’t have them. Look at how much government funds PF today is spending on campaigns and materials and wastage and corruption. Since 2011 it is going into may $2billion, yes in US$. Of the $7-$8 billion kaloba they got, maybe only $3-$4billion can realistically be accounted for. I recently asked engineers to estimate how much should have been spent on infrastructure on…
I recently asked engineers to estimate how much should have been spent on infrastructure on the ground but to no avail. HH will fix it through political will and right priorities.
I couldn’t agree more. Free education when richer countries have failed to do it? Bepako fimbi mune HH, we dont have money for that. Policies like this are a highway to economic instability.
HH lisaka sana, mwillamuposako amano, the man will do anything to get to plot one but alas he won’t manage
Ba sir????… is it a lie or not possible??????? are a cadre??????????? you see nothing is impossible. don’t only use you heads to carry hair, THINK…. you even say “maybe” so your seeing some possibilities??????? how do you tell that its a lie?????? you said the same when mwanawasa mentioned about free education at primary level but its working….you have ka money with dull children and poor people out there with bright children are failing to manage….lets see after 11/08/16 how that becomes a lie….you think this is dont kubeba????????????
HH
Like many of us are products of free education,Mukuka explain how much you paid for your education.The reason we pay taxes is not for presidents and their ministers to earn 23m in one year but to finance education and health for those who cant afford.Yes HH can provide free education up to university level what would help is to have a system to recover from those who benefit,is this too complicated for you to understand.
Less corruption will free up funds for such a project. Government coffers have been looted for years to the extent that African governments cannot provide simple basics for their citizens. Zambian resource to population ratio is such that free education is very possible if the country is properly governed. Zambia is not a poor country as far as her natural resources are concerned.
A complete misconception. Even if u brought corruption to zero, free education is a tall order. One needs a very big population to fund free this and that. Zambia does not have the numbers. As the Post has written today, UPND is either day dreaming or completely ignorant. I think both….it helps to come from the Govt system…HH is a novice…aspiring to learn on the job
You need mental evaluation if you believe that son
I guess it is a misconception because its not PF saying it. Zimbabwe did it until Bob Mugabe cooked the country. Zambia is losing literally billions to corruption.
Basic Education Teachers Union says, “There are too many competing needs and a government should create a policy that compels parents and those that can afford to contribute something to the education of their children. The government alone simply can’t.”
Its like proving universal health care. It will never HAPPEN EVER happen. NOT EVEN rich South Africa on UK can afford it.
UK provides free education to secondary level and health care is universal.
Basic Education Teachers Union says, “There are too many competing needs and a government should create a policy that compels parents and those that can afford to contribute something to the education of their children. The government alone simply can’t.”
Its like proving universal health care for all. It will never EVER HAPPEN. NOT EVEN rich South Africa or UK can afford it.
When we say HH has lost it you always refuse. He has not only inherited Insults and Violence from GBM but also LIES ! Free education, ninshi teacher akulafola inshi ? This madness to say the least. Infact buloshi !
Tell that stupid guy that he must make proper research before muttering his idiocy on matters patterning to development & nation building on media. He just sounds like someone campaigning for the ruling party, he must not hide behind education then & come clean as a PF cadre, otherwise he looks very uninformed for a teacher’s union president. How can he say no government that can implement free education? I am in Namibia, our neighbouring, they have free education from primary up to secondary education, if Nam can do it why can’t we do it as a nation?
You are right up to secondary. Just imagine upto college and university. Are you not missing it. The cost is massive. Where will that money come from. Please lets promise workable solutions to our economy
I also stay in Namibia and am a teacher it’s not completely free pupils still have pay boarding fees. It’s only school fees they do not pay but the education sector is suffering because of the same.
Those who still believes this novice of a politician should think outside tribe. HH can’t fight corruption because GBM reasons of being in politics is to loot and HH can’t stop GBM from what we have seen. Nepotism will be high knowing how tongas behaves when their mate is a boss. So let’s all forget about HH for now.
it is possible – under Kaunda administration education was free up to form five. Govt used provide free text books, exercise books etc even more better at Nursery school (welfare) we used to receive free Milk.
the question you should be asking is how they are going to do it for you to evaluate, rather than critising just for the sake of doing so other we will continue wallowing into meaningless slogan.s
Please k wa k, what was our population during KK’s rule and how many schools were there then. Lets also look at the literacy levels then, the number of those working, etc. These are issues you have to look for. For you information i did my primary school in eastern province from 1973. I do vividly remember that education was not absolutely free. We used to pay school fund and sports fund every year. It was compulsory to put on a uniform which our parents were forced to buy at the school. Those in school then will agree with me on this one. So no one should lie to us that there can be free education in this century which our forefathers found difficult to implement
@Kasongo wa Kasongo
I am a product of UNIP government-paid-for-education. We saw the effects of this when Zambian run into balance of payments problems in the early 80s. There was no expansion on education infrastructure to match the increase in student population because of lack of funds. Unza stopped admitting students on condition that it was also going to provide some bed space to admitted students as was the case before. Living rooms and lecture rooms became overfilled because there was no money to expand on these. These problems are still with tertiary institutions. No wonder PF is trying to put up some hostels in tertiary institutions. So, HH should stop lying through his teeth. We have been down this road before!!!
YES HE PROVIDE FREE EDUCATION BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT EDUCATION BECAME ALMOST NOTHING, NO DESKS, NO NEW SCHOOLS, THERE WAS A COMPLETELY COLLAPSE OF EDUCATION ESPECIALLY WHEN THE POPULATION STARTED GROWING FASTER THAN EXPECTED. ASK US WE STARTED WITH FREE EXCELLENT EDUCATION IN GARDE ONE ENDED UP WITH ALMOST USELESS STANDARD IN FORM 5 RECORDS ARE THERE FOR YOURSELF. BETWEEN 1975 to 1990 NOTHING RECOVERED WORSE TO WORST DO NOT BE CHEATED IT WAS THE MOST TRYING MOMENT IN ZAMBIAN HISTORY.
@BETUZ
Keep your DIRTY BRAINS TO YOUR SELF, NO WONDER THERES NO IMPROVEMENT WITHIN YOUR BETUZ.
HH WILL SHOW YOU MUCH MORE SINCE YOUR SKOPO IS STUCK IN SENSELESS MEDIOCRITY.
This is what it means, HH has a vision for the country, the visionless/myopic are not able comprehend his vision. Zambia needs a leader with Vision.
YES HE HAS A VISION TO REAR AND MANAGE COWS NOT TO RUN A COUNTRY WITH PEOPLE. THIS GUY IS SO CHEAPLY DESPERATE TO WIN ELECTIONS EVEN THROUGH PROMISING WHAT CANNOT WORK UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Give HH enough rope to hang himself and hold him accountable if he is lying. PF came into power with a 90 days theory to change Zambia by chasing all the Chinese- in short give Zambians more preference in all sectors. this was doubted to be unrealistic as five years (1826 days) later, the Chinese and foreigners are even more powerful. As one of the key performance indictors, they have failed us on that one and we ll hold them accountable come Aug 11.
That is why we are not changing government. Lies worked for PF.
We do not want another lie to be used to change government. That is why hh needs another strategy.
But knowing that he cant we just have to live with PF
What HH means is that the money for an example that President Lungu hired a whole plane to go to New York to attend UN meetings $300,000, plus hotel accomodation and food and allowances for 258 people he traveled with can be channeled into bursaries or scholarships.
HH is smart. That is the money he will use to give free education to your kids.
that’s the case when you are used to suffering… believe it HH aka kontolola.
Those that are born today do not understand. We had free education at the time of Kaunda, how was he managing ? It is possible to have free education where there is a will there is a way. Those who have not travelled think it is not possible to travel because their minds have set a boundary around themselves and thus cannot cross the boundary. We have one of the best economists in the World, and you still cannot believe that he can do it….He is the best option for Presidency, give him your vote and then you will see whether what he is saying is possible or not. ONE CANNOT WIN A LOTTERY WITHOUT BUYING A LOTERY TICKET…BUY YOURS ON 11TH AUGUST AND THEN SEE THE RESULTS.
Zambia had money then and the population was small.
Is Mukuka now a politician – how does he start opposing other peoples’ plans as if he were the only god who could harbour any plans at all?
Yes, it is possible to have free eduication and free medical facilities! If Mukuka finds this to be impossible, then that explains why he might not have entered direct university, as a school leaver: low interlectual quotient!
Once again, is ZCTU now partisan? Yes, HH has a vision! It is possible! Yes, we can!
That is why we are not changing government. Lies worked for PF.
We do not want another lie to be used to change government. That is why hh needs another strategy.
But knowing that he cant we just have to live with PF
Let “Chuundu Chaitwa” chairman HH continue ranting!!ALMOST ALL HE SAYS ARE LIES!!WE HAVE SEEN ENOUGH GOOD FROM PF A PARTY WHICH DO NOT PROMISE HEAVEN ON EARTH,SO WHY BELIEVE LIES FROM THIS FREE MANSON HH?LOOK AT HIS SMALL CROWD IN KATETE TOWN?HOW CAN UPND WIN WITH SUCH FEW PEOPLE IN A TOWN LIKE KATETE?KEEP ON DREAMING BA UPND!!”UMUNTU NI LUNGU-2016!!!GO PF GO!!
Cheating poor voters is not a solution. Let us be real and not saying things that are not attainable. Zambians are scrutinizing these politicians and the more they lie, the harder they fall.
Spot on. Where is this under 5 party and HH going to get the money from to finance free education? I guess they think its as cheap as buying diapers and clear HH has no clue on how costly it is to operate government institutions.
YOU UNION CHAPS JUST LISTEN MULEKENI EKESE MUKUTEKA. MOST OF THESE UNION CHAPS ARE LOUD MOUTHED LAZY CHAPS.
Free education is not workable looking at all factors, just throw this ancient idea or policy or whatever in the bin. Next topic please!
This Kanchema is a big liar…..here in Monze his home area he has failed to build even a toilet.How can he manage to give free education ? The job of a free mason is just to suck blood.
#ppo if it is true you stay in Namibia as you claim & a teacher for that matter, you should have known that Namibia schools are mostly day schools, & it is not true that it only school fees that is free, what about stationary? What a great relief to poor parents in Zambia if they were to be relieved from school fees & stationery. That is free education we are talking about that no chill is disadvantage from attending school coz of school fees and stationery. If Namibia can do this zambia also can do it, it is working in Namibia.
BULL
There is nothing impossible, just think outside the box! I agree with HH.
At a public rally, you cannot expect someone to go into details of how the scheme will work. There are different mechanisms that can be put in place to implement a scheme like what HH is talking about. It may not be completely free but the point is to make education accessible to all Zambians. KK’s model on free education was flawed because he never thought of its sustainability, so when copper prices fell, everything fell to the ground. KK may have had passion but it was hardly backed up by meticulous planning and foresight. I don’t see the basis of calling HH a liar at this stage. Where is the proof?
When the Union leader said “There are too many competing needs”, he actually meant, “there are too many thieving needs”.
I strongly support my government and their policies, which I am gladly implementing. However, the idea of free education is implementable. In Tanzania, Magufuli has implemented free education by instituting strong cost saving measures. I believe even my beloved current leader can take a leaf from Tanzania. I am told money is no longer flying around in the streets of Tanzania the way it was before. Colleagues who work in Government here in Zambia can also attest that some cost saving measures have been instituted. Personally, I have lost some good income from the so many nonsense, such as workshops , that were happening in Government. In summary, FREE education is possible if we SEAL the LEAKAGES.
Free education is possible provided with have a reduced govverment.Image we have over 77 ministers all been provided with 800 liters of fuel every month,talk time allowances and accommodation and several permanent secretaries.
It was possible in the UNIP ERA to provide free education due to a small population, people then were not eager to loan hence a small number enrolled. Because the population was less, the resources we had then were able to meet the demand.
1. Mukuka: you now have vehicles, houses and you are paying for your children who are in private schools and the like using union funds. Lok at your election to that office. Very corrupt system in these unions. HH will stop your corruption and stealing money from unions
2. Many teachers especially the management are stealing from the school confers (PTA funds). They use this money to build houses and buy cars. There is so much corruption even in promotions because of this money. HH will stop this through free education. Parents will not pay anything even the abused PTA funds
3. Yes university learning will be free in government universities and colleges. Why not? Remove corruption and there is going to be plenty of money for other things.
4. The key word is corruption. HH is…
That is why we are not changing government. Lies worked for PF.
We do not want another lie to be used to change government. That is why hh needs another strategy.
But knowing that he cant we just have to live with PF
Yaba hh at it again, this dreamer awe sure.
He is just another hired cadre who has been hired by PF and probably promised a foreign service posting. Thats how Hillary chipango was appointed as ministry spokesperson.
Joyce Nonde was similar and appointed central committee member of PF. She never got appointed as minister of Labour. Very sad politics of the belly.
I never bought a pen or noted book from grade 1 to university even though KK spent another $9.5b on liberation wars. HH IS THE RIGHT MAN. A genuine teacher should be delighted that a candidate is promising to prioritize his sector. SHAME TO THE COMPROMISED UNIONIST.
Offering free education as proclaimed by HH and his UPND is a total madness and one cannot be fooled around to believe. This is impossible and cannot and will never happen when you look at the current economy challenges world wide. It is better to talk less but the truth than yapping a lot but full of lies.
I pretty much had free education up to the university of Zambia… the problem we have in Zambia is to do with lack of priorities and wastage by government. The PF gives money to marketeers who do not produce anything instead of giving farmers who produce for the nation – this is the thinking that is wrong in PF!