CHISHIMBA BWALYA
Kalabo
IN CELEBRATING its 20th anniversary of partnering with Government and Barotse Royal Establishment to manage Liuwa National Park, African Parks (AP) has donated 12,500 books, a Hino truck, and a fish-drying facility to the Liuwa Plain National Park community.
The book donation, valued at US$40,000, is expected to greatly improve the pupil-book ratio, which currently stands at 10:1.
District Commissioner Musangu Njamba emphasised the importance of this donation, stating that it will have a lasting impact on education in the area.
In addition to the donation, AP has been working to restore the park’s conservation legacy, which dates back to the 19th century when the King of Barotseland appointed his people as custodians of the reserve. Today, Liuwa Plain National Park is a shining example of how people and wildlife can co-exist and benefit from each other.
Speaking during the handover of the books in Kalabo last Thursday, Mr Njamba said the books would help improve literary levels in Liuwa.
“I am certain that textbooks will bridge the current gap of lack of access to literature in Liuwa schools and enhance reading among learners and ultimately improve education standards in beneficiary schools.
“As Government, we are delighted to see non-governmental organisations coming on board to supplement our effort in trying to uplift the education standards in the country,” he said.
He called on the schools to improve their passing rate following the donation of the learning material.
“We have seen how the passing trend has been in the past. Now with this support, we expect nothing but improved results from the beneficiary schools.”
Seven schools are earmarked to benefit from the handover, which the District Education Board secretary (DEBs), Gift Sibanze, described as a “tremendous contribution”.
Mr Sibanze urged the school heads to be transparent in the allocation of the donated resources.
And Kahilu Sandala, head teacher for Mishulundu Primary School, which is set to benefit from the donation, was happy with the donation saying it will help in reducing the book-pupil ratio, which had increased following the re-introduction of free education.
He revealed that his school, which has over 600 learners from early childhood education to Grade 9, previously had only about 400 in 2021.
