Choma District Education Board Secretary Annah Masilani has paid tribute to GLASCO Foundation of Canada for supplementing government efforts in increasing access to education in the district and the nation as a whole.
Ms. Masilani says shortening walking distances to school and increasing access to education for all is one of the major priorities of government which has built schools all over the country.
She said this yesterday during the hand over ceremony of a teacher’s house built under the donation of GLASCO Foundation of Canada at Katumbi Community School in Chief Macha ‘s area.
Mrs. Masilani pointed out that education has become a right and that every child is required to reach basic education from grade 1-9 by 2015, a target government is trying to achieve under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
She disclosed that her ministry is working with other partners in the district such as ADRA Zambia and GLASCO Foundation to ensure that it reaches its target before 2015 .
Mrs. Masilani revealed that her office is currently processing papers to try to gazette the community school so that it is upgraded from a community level to a basic learning institution in order for grade seven examinations to be conducted at the same facility.
She added that her office has already identified the school for farther help in form of grants to enable the institution procure chalk, books and pupils’ requisite.
Currently the school is running up to grade four and aims to reach grade seven as soon as it is upgraded to a basic level.
The DEBS assured the community of Katumbi that her office will send teachers since the school is slowly growing and will absored the increasing number of pupils due to good infrastructure which has been made possible by GLASCO Foundation in partnership with government.
She reminded the community to look after the newly built infrastructure with good care.
“I want to thank the donors for the job well done especially in the provision of solar panels for this will retain teachers in rural areas and as our wish is to make rural schools conducive to teachers,” she said.
And speaking at the same function GLASCO Foundation Chairman Colin B. Glasco said his organization will remain committed to improve the welfare of the under privileged in society.
He said he is overwhelmed with the response his organization has received from the local community.
ZANIS
