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Zambia will require more investment in the education sector to build school infrastructure, decongest classrooms, and purchase textbooks, computers and equipment to operationalise the new curriculum, the National Action for Quality Education in Zambia has said.
NAQEZ Executive Director, Dr. Aaron Chansa emphasized that after the August 13 general elections, Zambia would need a major shift in administration of the education sector.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, Chansa stressed that without improved infrastructure and teacher housing, quality education cannot be delivered in Zambian schools.
He also said NAQEZ was impressed with commitments made by several political parties in their manifestos and pronouncements regarding the future of Zambia’s education sector.
“The UPND, Citizens First, Socialist Party and NRUP have committed to maintaining provision of free education for children in the country,” Chansa noted.
He described the pledges as commendable and said they should be supported by all stakeholders concerned with improving learning outcomes.
Chansa also welcomed strong assurances from National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRUP) regarding thorny issues of salary scale upgrades and debt swaps for teachers and other civil servants.
“These matters are critically important to teachers and it was elating that they have attracted attention from prospective national political leaders,” he said.
Chansa further welcomed UPND’s promise to build public universities in all provinces without such facilities, arguing there is no justification for provinces to remain without public universities after more than six decades of independence.
He said it would be the duty of whichever party that emerged victorious to build more science laboratories at schools, workshops for practical subjects and decent houses for teachers.
Chansa warned that failure to deliver on infrastructure and teacher welfare would undermine efforts to improve the current poor quality of education in Zambia.
“As an organisation concerned about the current poor quality of education in Zambia, we will hold the winning administration to account on the promises being made today,” he said.
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