First Lady, Esther Lungu has urged government to ensure children with disabilities are provided with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools. Mrs Lungu said this will help in the implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEMs) programme in schools.

She said children with different disabilities should not be left out when implementing the STEMs programme because it is important to their development. Mrs Lungu said government provide technological devices such as talking calculators, phones and computers to children with disabilities.

“I hope that under the STEMs programme, children that are different disabled have been catered for,” she said.

Mrs Lungu was speaking in Kitwe today when she officiated at the handover of newly built three classroom blocks built by the SOS children’s village Zambia at Kafue Bridge Secondary School.

The school has since been renamed Esther Lungu in recognition of the First Lady’s contribution to educating vulnerable children.

And Mrs Lungu said there is need to expand infrastructure in schools to provide a safe environment for children.

“We need all children back in school but we should ensure their safety through additional classroom blocks so that social distance is observed,” she said.

Mrs Lungu said 53 percent of Zambia’s population is made up of young people hence the need to support education for all children.

She stated that government has created a conducive environment for the private sector to participate in the development of the nation through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.

Mrs Lungu said SOS has taken advantage of PPPs to help vulnerable children.

And Mrs Lungu has donated assorted foodstuffs, inputs, sports skits and K20, 000 cash to the school which has been re-named after her.

She also donated foodstuffs to two girls who have been brought back to school under the re-entry policy as well as a Kitwe mother with triplets who needed help.

And Copperbelt Minister, Japhen Mwakalombe has commended Mrs Lungu for her efforts in supporting girl child education which he said is an equalizer between the poor and the rich.

Mr Mwakalombe suggested that the school be renamed Esther Lungu, which the First Lady gladly accepted and promised to take responsibility for the school’s needs.

Meanwhile, SOS Board Chairperson, Elias Mpondela said the school was built at a cost of K5million with support from SOS Norway.

Mr Mponde disclosed that SOS Kitwe village is taking care of 3,321 children.

He said the newly built infrastructure comprise three classrooms, borehole, ablution block, home economics rooms and a computer laboratory.

And Copperbelt Provincial Education Officer, Felix Ngoma said the Ministry of Education had been looking for partners to develop the school which was initially a primary school.

“The school starts from early childhood education to grade eleven with 54 teachers and 1,733 pupils,” he said.

Mr Ngoma thanked SOS for working with the school and called on other stakeholders to emulate the organisation in supporting the education sector through donation of books, computers and desks among other services.

Government says it is on course to attain the vision 2030 of becoming a middle-income country through skills training.

Western Province Permanent Secretary, Danny Bukali said government has prioritized learning as a life-long process which is provided at every level in the country.

Mr Bukali said government will strive to ensure that many people in the country especially the youths are empowered for them to thrive in their various communities.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Community Development Director of Finance, Chinyemba Sakanyi at the second graduation ceremony of 55 graduands at Namushakende Community Development Skills Training Centre in Mongu.

“This milestone cannot go unnoticed taking into consideration the contribution of these graduates would make to our province and the country at large. History indicates that no country in the world has developed without an educated populace mainly in skills development,” Mr Bukali said.

“Our commitment as a ruling government is to ensure that skills development rides on the vision 2030 which asserts that, no one should be left behind. This can be evidenced by the strides the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services has made of not only recruiting students from urban areas but also those from far flung areas in the province,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Bukali further said government through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services is in the process of acquiring productive land from traditional leaders and local authorities for the establishment of colleges and skills training centres with the aim of generating income and promoting sustainability in the province.

“I am confident that our traditional leaders and local authorities in the province will support this noble cause so that our people are empowered with necessary skills that will better their lives,” said Mr Bukali.

“I would like to assure you that the Patriotic Front government is not only a listening one, but also an action oriented government. Thus, the Ministry of Community Development shall endeavor to support training centres in the province,” said Mr Bukali.

And when giving a vote of thanks, one of the graduands in bricklaying and plastering, Silinga Nyambe appealed to government to ensure that students who graduate from skills training centres be empowered with loans to enable them venture in different businesses.

Mr Nyambe noted that many youths have no start-up funds to initiate programmes that will see them becoming potential future employers.

The Catholic Church in Northern Province has implored Christians to exercise their civil rights by registering as voters in the on-going voter registration exercise.

Archbishop of Kasama Archdiocese, Ignatius Chama said voting is a constitutional right and encouraged all eligible voters to ensure that they register during the exercise in order for them to take part in next year’s general elections.

Archbishop said this yesterday during a mass celebration and creation of Saint Thomas Sub Parish in Senior Chieftainess Chungu’s Chiefdom in Lupososhi District.

And Northern Province Minister, Chungu Bwalya who attended the mass celebration expressed gratitude to the church for its continued support in the issues of governance.

Mr Bwalya who is also Lupososhi Member of Parliament (MP) said most members of the community belong to the church hence making it a good platform to speak on national matters.

The lawmaker added that the church has the ability to change the prejudices of people in governance issues and help address the negative aspects surrounding voting.

Mr Bwalya also praised the Catholic Church for being an all-weather partner in the social, economic and spiritual well-being of the country.

“You have always been our partners in development and together we will continue fostering development for the betterment of our country,” he explained.

He explained that the Catholic Church is playing an instrumental role in a number of community supported initiatives in the area of education, health, hospices and poverty reduction.

“The church has continued to look after the aged and orphans in various parts of the country and these works are commendable,” he said.

Mr Bwalya further said government upholds the values of Zambia as a Christian nation and pledged to continue working together with the church in enhancing the social and economic development of the country.

Meanwhile, Senior Chieftainess Chungu of Lupososhi district thanked the Catholic Church for creating a parish in the area as it will bring people closer to God.

The traditional leader also thanked President Lungu for his pledge to ensure that a church is constructed in the area.

“I am grateful to the government for striving to leave no one behind in the country’s development agenda,” she said.

The traditional leader promised to work with government and the church in providing guidance and leadership to the people.