The Ministry of Education has called on parents and guardians to take keen interest in monitoring their children’s behaviour, in order to ensure safe and supportive learning environments as schools reopen on January 12, 2026.
Ministry of Education Principal Public Relations Officer Clive Kalunga says bullying remains a serious concern in the education sector, with statistics according to national and international surveys, indicating that nearly 63 percent of learners in Zambia have experienced bullying.
Mr Kalunga explained that bullying undermines the learner’s psychological well-being, academic performance and overall development.
He was speaking when he featured on a TV programme dubbed Zambia Today, ahead of the opening of schools on Monday, January 12, 2026.
And Mr Kalunga has explained that the ministry is particularly concerned with the rise in cyberbullying, where learners are harassed or humiliated through social media platforms and mobile messaging, noting that such abuse often extends beyond school premises into homes.
The MOE Principal Public Relations Officer stressed that parents have a critical role to play in identifying early warning signs of bullying, such as sudden changes in behaviour, emotional distress, reluctance to attend school and declining academic performance.
He further called on teachers and school administrators to strengthen guidance and counselling services to enforce school codes of conduct and create open channels where learners feel safe to report abuse, without fear of retaliation.
Mr Kalunga added that the ministry is working closely with other stakeholders, including law enforcement agencies, child protection agencies and community leaders to ensure coordinated response to bullying cases.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that all learners access education in a safe, inclusive and violence free environment in line with the Eighth National Development Plan and Vision 2030.
