Parliament heard yesterday that government has constructed 69 secondary schools across the country bringing the total number to 1,114.
This came to light when President Edgar Lungu addressed the fifth session of the twelfth National Assembly on the progress made in the application of national values and principles.
This is the fourth national address in a role President Lungu has delivered to parliament on the progress made in the application of the national values and principles since its introduction in 2017 under the new amended constitution.
President Lungu says the construction of additional secondary schools has created 41,400 spaces for learners.
“With regard to education in the last four years, government has constructed 69 secondary schools across the country, bringing the total number to 1,114. this has created 41,400 additional school spaces for our learners.”
He further revealed that government has recruited more teachers in special education from 1,380 in 2017 to 2,275 in 2019.
The Head of State also disclosed that the number of public schools with facilities to cater for learners with special needs stands at 227.
President Lungu assured the nation that government remains resolved in its quests to promoting inclusive education.
“To promote inclusive education, we have also increased the number of teachers trained in special education from 1,380 in 2017 to 2,275 in 2019.
“currently, the number of public schools with facilities to cater for learners with special needs stands at 227,” He said.
President Lungu informed parliament that an additional 10 special education schools have been constructed since 2017 bringing the total to 51 such schools across the country.
The facilities are currently providing education services to about 130,000 learners with special needs per year.
“In addition, 10 special education schools have been constructed since 2017 bringing the total to 51 such schools across the country. These facilities are providing education services to about 130,000 learners with special needs per year.”
He said to further promote the dignity of persons living with disabilities, government is supporting more than 73 thousand persons with disabilities under the social cash transfer programme.
“Further, to promote the dignity of persons with disabilities, government is supporting 73,365 beneficiaries with disabilities under the social cash transfer programme,” He disclosed.
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Meanwhile President Lungu has told Parliament that government is supporting students from poor and vulnerable households with student loans and scholarships as to enable them acquire education.
He placed the number of the students supported by government in 2020 at 22,799 while in 2017 a total of 17,221 students were supported with loans and scholarships.
Parliament also heard that 30 percent of loans and scholarships have been reserved for female learners while the remaining 70 percent is competed for by both male and female students.
“ My government is supporting students from poor and vulnerable households with student loans and scholarships. by end of 2020, government had supported 22,799 students compared to 17,221 students in 2017.
“currently 30 percent of loans and scholarships is reserved for female learners, while the remaining 70 percent is competed for by both male and female students. these quotas also apply to enrolment of learners in universities and colleges.”
And commenting on pupil attendance, President Lungu said government has scaled up the home grown school feeding programme so as to encourage pupil attendance.
He disclosed that government is currently feeding 1,127,000 learners in 2,800 schools in 41 districts.
He stressed that the number of pupils benefiting from the feeding programme has significantly grown compared to 1,052,760 learners in 2,700 schools in 38 districts in 2017.
“To enhance pupil attendance and nutrition among primary school learners, we have scaled-up the home-grown school feeding programme. currently, government is feeding 1,127,000 learners in 2,800 schools in 41districts compared to 1,052,760 learners in 2,700 schools in 38 districts in 2017.”
The Head of State reiterated government’s determination in ensuring that no child drops out of primary school on account of hunger
A job well done, we would not expect anything less after borrowing more than $17 billion……..
Freedom Sikazwe is not fit to advisor to be our president cos he blocks every citizen to the president. Too cruel and greedman.
Great development in the education sector
The construction of those schools must go hand in hand with job creation.
Great development. Education is our government’s priority. This is what we were elected to do and we are delivering. We don’t need to campaign for the next election because our achievements speak for themselves.
I am just nursing my hangover from Chinese new year. Let me tell you the Chinese know how to party. Lots of Chinese women and good to see them freely mingling with Zambians. We are all one under the lord.
They construct schools without houses for teachers…
This man is out of touch even they photo states otherwise that its all through foreign loans that this Lungu does not have the responsibility to pay back…why doesn’t he go to rural areas and show us these schools he is talking about
N3z the coon based in the UK is back to his old ways of telling us stories of what he was doing last night….old habits die hard.
Yes government has constructed 69 but teachers still under PAID and no teacher who will b deplod in those 69.
Well done but no quality education without teachers. Tr to pupil ratio is bad. Politics aside
That’s abusing shosio media ba boss which 69
I am very puzzled. There are so many schools in Zambia today, both public and private, but why are there so many illiterate people? We have so many street kids, women, mothers, men, fathers who cannot read or write. I once interviewed a group of 7 women of the night at Northmead who admitted to being unable to read or write because they fell out of school as their parents and guardians could not afford. Who is in these schools? Furthermore, thousands of qualified teachers are unemployed. What is going on? We can go back to the UNIP days and we find that there were no street kids and the quality of education was so good that even a grade 7 could become a police constable and a grade 10, a minister. Not any more.
It’s a job well done.. a good milestone in enhancing the provision of education for all in the country