Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office, Wisdom Bwalya, is impressed with the level of progress made on the construction of Early Child Education (ECE) hubs and satellite centres in Isoka district in Muchinga Province.
Mr Bwalya said works on the World Bank-funded projects in Isoka are moving at a commendable pace compared to those in Chinsali district.
He stated that the community-led contractors who are engaged to undertake the projects have so far exhibited quality workmanship and are on schedule towards completing their assignments.
He explained that the painting of the structure and installation of electricity cables and water pipes is almost complete at Kampumbu ECE hub.
Mr Bwalya attributed the substantial progress made on the project to the commitment that the community has attached to the works.
“This is the most impressive project we have visited in Muchinga Province so far, because we have noticed that the school authorities and the community here are working together to ensure that this hub is completed,” he said.
Mr Bwalya was speaking when he inspected the Kampumbu primary school ECE hub in Isoka district.
The Permanent Secretary has meanwhile appealed to the contractor working on the Malango primary school satellite centre to expedite works despite making steady progress on the project.
And Isoka District Education Board Secretary, Belvin Mwale stated that the ECE centres in the district will help in the provision of equitable and inclusive education for learners in rural areas.
Mr Mwale said the timely completion of the centres in the district is crucial, as it will improve the quality of early learning in the area since pupils will be using modern education facilities.
“We are very happy that we have benefited from this project, and we will ensure that we closely supervise these projects so that they can be completed on time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Zambia Enhancing Early Learning (ZEEL) Projects Coordinator in the Ministry of Education, Martin Liwali, attributed the slow pace of works on other ECE hub projects in the area to limited labour force and procurement issues.
Mr Liwali stated that there is need to increase the labour force on the projects in order to help accelerate works before the end of June 2026.
He added that the delayed procurement process of materials is also another factor that has been inhibiting the completion of the education facilities in most of the areas which were visited.
