Government to Rehabilitate Chipepo Secondary School

Government is set to rehabilitate Chipepo secondary school in Gwembe District, Southern Province.

This comes after a protracted neglect by previous governments which left the school infrastructure deteriorated.

Southern Province Permanent Secretary, Namani Monze, who visited the school on a fact-finding mission, disclosed that a major facelift would soon begin at the school.

Dr. Monze in the company of Gwembe District Commissioner Killian Chikandula, Southern Provincial Education Officer Oliver Kambuli and other Government officials said the education sector reforms were bearing fruit at Chipepo Secondary School in Gwembe District.

He added that Chipepo Secondary School was one of the famous schools in the country but with time has faced some neglect which affected the pass rate.

“The vision of Government is that every child who comes into a government school must go out with a certificate, not just a certificate but a good certificate,” said Dr Monze.

He further said that as of 2021, the school had seen an increase in the enrollment of learners as well as an increase in the pass rate.

“You will be surprised that the pass rate from 2021 to now has been increasing, for example the grade 12’s in 2023, it was below 70 percent and by last year the pass rate had gone up to 85 percent,” he said.

Dr Monze said that the classroom blocks, dormitories and other facilities will be rehabilitated to provide a conducive learning environment.

“This is because of the reforms of the UPND Government through the President of the Republic of Zambia has put in, it is also a general observation countrywide that the reforms are now bearing fruits and we need to put more pressure on the peddle,” Dr Monze said.

And Gwembe District Commissioner Killian Chikandula urged learners at the school to treasure education.

Mr Chikandula added that because of the Government’s commitment to education, there had been an increase in teacher recruitment, bursaries, furniture and more.

“You know the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema loves you, he is sending more teachers, furniture like desks being made using CDF and he is ensuring good road network,” Mr Chikandula said.

Meanwhile Southern Provincial Education Officer Oliver Kambuli said the Ministry of Education was set to send more teachers to Chipepo Secondary School in the next recruitment.

“I can assure you that more teachers will be sent here, even the next recruitment, I can assure you that we are already positioned to send some teachers,” Dr Kambuli said.

Meanwhile Chipepo Secondary School Headteacher Neva Muleya hailed the government for the education reforms.

Mr Muleya thanked government for the bursaries, the boarding grant which has made feeding at the school easier.

He also highlighted that through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) over 600 desks have been received.

“So far we have received 331 tables and 351 Chairs, that has made sitting in classrooms comfortable, we are grateful to the government for the CDF,” Mr Muleya said.