The ministry of General Education says community schools will not be abolished.
General Education Permanent Secretary Henry Tukombe said that community schools play a pivotal role in Zambia’s education system, and therefore cannot be abolished at any cost.
This was disclosed in a speech read on his behalf by Ministry of General Education Specialised Services Director Muyangwa Kamuyumwa during a dissemination meeting at the Zambia Open Community School.
The PS added that community schools play an important role in supplementing government efforts through the provision of education to under privileged pupils.
He stressed that community schools will continue to exist for as long as under privileged children are still found among community groups.
He further disclosed that all teachers currently servicing community schools will now be required to register with the teaching council.
Mr Tukombe explained that after teachers are registered with the council, they can continue teaching in their respective community schools.
He noted that if teachers in community schools were not registered it would have been difficult for them to teach at any community school.
And speaking earlier Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS) Legal Advisor Chocho Situmbeko implored government to consider formulating a framework to guide the implementation process of upgrading community schools.
She noted that lack of a framework has made it difficult to interpret and implement the upgrading of communities schools.
She stressed that the development has resulted in community schools not benefiting from the policy.
