Poor funding making free education a joke – NAQEZ
By Tony Nkhoma
THE free education policy is compromised because of low funding to the sector, says National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ).
NAQEZ executive director Dr Aaron Chansa said the government should prioritise investing in the sector for the policy to remain sustainable.
Dr Chansa, however, welcomed the government’s pronouncement to enact the free education policy into law with consciousness.
He urged the government to be mindful of the financial implications for the sector, saying currently, financial support was low.
“While we strongly support this intention and urge all stakeholders to embrace it, we are concerned about the inadequate financial support to the education sector,” he said.
He said his organisation endorsed the government’s intentions to enact a law that would make the provision of free education in public schools legal.
Dr Chansa said the enactment of free education into law would allow future governments to carry on with the policy.
“The announcement of this intention by the President is welcome as it is in line with Sustainable Development Goal number four (SDG 4). When done, the legislation will not only assure the citizens of the political commitment to education, but the law will effectively ring-fence the indispensable place which education should hold,” he said.
He said the country was facing challenges in financing the implementation of the new curriculum because of low funding.
“We would like to see huge investments in school infrastructure, teaching and learning materials, teacher motivation, technology, and teacher recruitment,” Dr Chansa.
Dr Chansa said the new curriculum was difficult and expensive to implement without improved budgeting.
He urged the government to begin reviewing the 2011 Education Act so that it clearly defines the place of education provision in the country.
“Now that the President has indicated his plans to legislate free education in Zambia, NAQEZ would like to advise the Ministry of Education to begin the process of reviewing the 2011 Education Act. When reviewed, the Act should clearly state the place of education provision in the country,” Dr Chansa said.
