A delegation from the World Bank, led by Task Team Leader, Hongyu Yang, has arrived in Western Province to assess the progress of the Zambia Education Enhancement Project (ZEEP) and the Zambia Early Education Learning (ZEEL) programme.
The team, accompanied by the Ministry of Education Director of Early Childhood Education, Charm Kalimbika, and officials from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, paid a courtesy call on Western Province Permanent Secretary, Simomo Akapelwa, to discuss the implementation of the projects.
The media reports that through ZEEP and ZEEL, the World Bank is funding the construction of 22 secondary schools and 34 Early Childhood Education (ECE) centers in Western Province, comprising 17 hubs and 17 satellite centers.
Mr Kalimbika indicated that the projects form part of a broader national effort to build 120 secondary schools and 440 ECE centers across Zambia.
He added that initiatives further aim to expand access to quality education and improve learning outcomes for children in the province.
The World Bank mission will provide an opportunity to evaluate the progress made so far and identify areas for further improvement.
Western Province Permanent Secretary, Simomo Akapelwa, has urged the Provincial Education Office to take interest in monitoring the projects doted around the province to appreciate the challenges faced.
He noted the importance of such infrastructure in the province, adding that the move is also in line with the government’s ideology in education sector.
Mr Akapelwa highlighted the need to also understand the geographical location of the province as it will help understand funding allocations of projects.
