Chilanga Cement Plc is one of 17 companies collaborating with the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) to promote skills development through the Employer-Based Training (EBT) and Human Resource Development (HRD) Programs.

Speaking during the contract signing ceremony, TEVETA Director General Cleophas Takaiza highlighted that the EBT and HRD programs are crucial components of the TEVET Fund, aimed at ensuring skills development aligns with labour market demands, emerging technologies, and national development goals.

Mr. Takaiza stated that the supported programs focus on key growth sectors, including manufacturing, construction, energy, ICT, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, hospitality, and tourism.

He explained that  through the HRD window, more than K4.4 million has been invested to strengthen the capacity of training institutions, benefiting over 110 lecturers through qualifications, ranging from craft certificates to master’s degrees and short courses.

He pointed out that the interventions aim to improve the quality of training delivery and ensure strong alignment between training institutions and industry requirements.

TEVETA Board Chairperson, Ngoza Nkwabilo, highlighted that the partnerships demonstrate a shared commitment to investing in human capital as a strategic driver of productivity, competitiveness and long-term sustainability.

“Workforce development remains central to Zambia’s economic transformation agenda and called on more employers and training institutions to embrace collaborative, industry-driven skills development models’’, she noted.

Chilanga Cement Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager, Gift Danga explained that under the EBT programme, TEVETA was partnering with employers across diverse sectors to support targeted up-skilling and re-skilling initiatives.

He notes that this year alone, the EBT contracts being signed will benefit over 718 employees, with a total investment of approximately K5.9 million shared equally between employers and the TEVET Fund.

Mr Danga said the focus areas include engineering and manufacturing, industrial production, automotive and heavy equipment, ICT and digital engineering, occupational health and safety, and hospitality.

“As Chilanga Cement Plc, we remain committed to supporting initiatives that enhance workforce capability, improve productivity, and contribute to national development. Our participation in the TEVETA Employer-Based Training programme reflects our belief that investing in people is essential to building a resilient, competitive and future-ready industry for Zambia”, he emphasised.

The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) has donated assorted items worth K140, 000 to Matero After Care Centre in Lusaka.

The donation of 60 mattresses, 60 blankets and assorted groceries, which is worth 140,000 Kwacha, has put smiles on the faces of these elderly people at the centre.

NAPSA Director General, Muyangwa Muyangwa says the organisation remains committed to undertaking initiatives that uplift communities and promote care, dignity, and inclusion.

Speaking at the Matero After Care Centre in Lusaka today, Mr Muyangwa said the donation demonstrates NAPSA’s continued commitment to social responsibility and community engagement.

He said the initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that the institution remains responsive not only to its members but also to vulnerable groups within society.

“As NAPSA, our mandate goes beyond administering social security. We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve and recognise the importance of giving back in a meaningful and humane way,” he said.

Mr Muyangwa noted that it was the desire and hope of NAPSA that the gesture will supplement the efforts of the government in addressing the welfare of the aged people.

He said the elderly people are custodians of history and values, having contributed immensely to building society hence they deserve care, respect and support.

Mr Muyangwa has since commended the Matero After Care Centre management and staff for their dedication to the wellbeing of the elderly people despite challenging circumstances.

Meanwhile, Matero After Care Centre Security Officer-in-Charge, Christina Shawa, thanked NAPSA for the gesture saying it will go a long way in addressing the needs of the elderly people at the facility.

And one of the beneficiaries, Precious Kabwenge, commended NAPSA for the donation and urged the institution to continue with such gestures.

A total of about 600,000 learners across the country have advanced to Grade Ten and Form One after the release of the 2025 Grade Seven national examination results, the Education Ministry has announced.

Education Minister Douglas Syakalima confirmed the results in Lusaka, stating that 722,321 candidates sat for the Grade Seven examinations, with 522,768 qualifying for progression to secondary school level.

Mr Syakalima said the results reflected continued improvement in learner performance under the revised education structure and Government’s policy of automatic progression at primary level.

According to figures released by the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ), 363,674 candidates qualified for Grade Eight places, while 159,094 were selected to proceed directly to Form One.

The minister said male learners accounted for 263,757 of the candidates who qualified for progression, while 258,911 were female, indicating a relatively balanced gender distribution.

Mr Syakalima said the 2025 results showed progress in learning outcomes compared with previous years, noting that increased investment in infrastructure, teacher recruitment, and learning materials had contributed to improved performance.

He stated that Government remained committed to expanding access to secondary education to accommodate the growing number of learners transitioning from primary school.

Mr Syakalima said the ministry had already taken steps to ensure that adequate classroom space, teaching staff, and learning resources were available to absorb the increased enrolment at secondary level.

He noted that the continued implementation of free education at primary level had contributed to higher learner retention and completion rates, resulting in increased numbers qualifying for progression.

The minister said that under the new education structure, Grade Seven examinations were primarily diagnostic and aimed at assessing learners’ readiness for secondary education rather than acting as a barrier.

He added that Government would continue to invest in education infrastructure, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, to address pressure on secondary schools.

Mr Syakalima also urged parents and guardians to support learners as they transition to the next level of education, emphasising the importance of discipline and continued engagement in learning.

ECZ Executive Director Michael Chikondi said examination results could be accessed online through the ECZ portal, adding that schools had also been provided with official result summaries.

Mr Chikondi said the council had strengthened examination administration systems to ensure timely processing and release of results, as well as improved integrity in assessment procedures.

He noted that ECZ would continue to work closely with the Ministry of Education to align assessment practices with curriculum reforms and national education objectives.

Government has prioritised education as a key driver of human capital development, with increased funding allocated to school infrastructure, teacher recruitment, and curriculum reform.

The ministry reiterated that expansion of secondary school capacity remained a priority as enrolment continues to rise following sustained investment in primary education.