DUBBED the great equaliser, education is central to the development aspirations of any country.
For a nation to record meaningful development, it must invest heavily in the education of its citizens.
Education has been described by many as the key that unlocks a country’s potential and drives its growth in various sectors.
Most importantly, however, education is the key that unlocks the potential of citizens and enables them to participate in the affairs of their country. Without education, citizens are reduced to being passive observers in their country’s economic affairs.
We wholeheartedly agree with National Action for Quality Education in Zambia in recognising the crucial role education plays in fostering sustainable and equitable national development.
And we share the organisation’s delight at the United Party for National Development administration’s determination to make education accessible to every citizen regardless of their financial status. Government’s dedication to enhancing education is a commendable stance that has the potential to bring about positive transformation for all citizens.
Education has the power to break the cycle of poverty, empower individuals, and drive economic growth. Through its commitment to education, UPND has demonstrated a commitment to levelling the playing field and ensuring that all Zambians have access to quality education regardless of their socio-economic background.
As we have said before, investing in education not only benefits individuals by improving their skills and opportunities but also contributes to the overall development of a nation.
A well-educated population is more likely to contribute positively to society and drive economic progress.
Improving access to education and improving the quality thereof is laying the foundation for a brighter future for the country as a whole.
We believe there is no greater gift that a government can give to its people than education. Empowering citizens with knowledge and skills equips them with the necessary tools they need to succeed and participate in the country’s development.
The reintroduction of free education saw a number of our children going back to classrooms and filling them to capacity. These children would easily have ended up on the streets and become delinquents and a nuisance and danger to public order and peace.
But the free education policy has changed all that. They now have the opportunity of becoming anything they desire.
As NAQEZ has observed, the UPND government has not ended at making education free. It is now acting to ensure that all the children that trooped back to classes are comfortably accommodated by building more classes in schools across the country.
The President’s directive that no child should sit on the floor in a classroom by the end of this year has seen how thousands of desks being made and delivered to schools. It’s only a matter of time before all children are comfortably accommodated in classrooms.
The overwhelming response to free education is a clear indication that education was priced out of reach for the vast majority of our people.
Clearly, many poor households that may have wanted to send their children to schools were unable to do so.
It is, therefore, gratifying, as NAQEZ Central Province secretary Justin Kabungo observes, that Government is committed to enabling poor households to provide food for school-going children through social cash transfer.
Government has further enhanced its school feeding programme for vulnerable pupils. In addition to this, programmes such as the school health programme, which Government is running in collaboration with partners, will reduce absenteeism, enhance the quality of education and ensure that pupils remain in schools.
In addition to these programmes, Government is providing secondary school and skills development bursaries through enhanced Constituency Development Fund to ensure that all those who will and qualify for such educational opportunities can seize them without being disadvantaged by their weak financial muscles.
All these measures have the net effect of ensuring an educated citizenry in the long term.
And sustainable development relies heavily on a well-educated population that can adapt to changing circumstances and contribute to the growth of various sectors. By prioritising education, UPND is not only investing in the current generation but also ensuring that future generations have the necessary skills and knowledge to address the challenges of tomorrow.
UPND’s emphasis on education reflects a forward-thinking approach to governance and a recognition of the critical role that education plays in preparing citizens for a rapidly changing world where technology and globalisation are transforming the way we work and live.
Govt’s commitment to education commendable
DUBBED the great equaliser, education is central to the development aspirations of any country.
For a nation to record meaningful development, it must invest heavily in the education of its citizens.
Education has been described by many as the key that unlocks a country’s potential and drives its growth in various sectors.
Most importantly, however, education is the key that unlocks the potential of citizens and enables them to participate in the affairs of their country. Without education, citizens are reduced to being passive observers in their country’s economic affairs.
We wholeheartedly agree with National Action for Quality Education in Zambia in recognising the crucial role education plays in fostering sustainable and equitable national development.
And we share the organisation’s delight at the United Party for National Development administration’s determination to make education accessible to every citizen regardless of their financial status. Government’s dedication to enhancing education is a commendable stance that has the potential to bring about positive transformation for all citizens.
Education has the power to break the cycle of poverty, empower individuals, and drive economic growth. Through its commitment to education, UPND has demonstrated a commitment to levelling the playing field and ensuring that all Zambians have access to quality education regardless of their socio-economic background.
As we have said before, investing in education not only benefits individuals by improving their skills and opportunities but also contributes to the overall development of a nation.
A well-educated population is more likely to contribute positively to society and drive economic progress.
Improving access to education and improving the quality thereof is laying the foundation for a brighter future for the country as a whole.
We believe there is no greater gift that a government can give to its people than education. Empowering citizens with knowledge and skills equips them with the necessary tools they need to succeed and participate in the country’s development.
The reintroduction of free education saw a number of our children going back to classrooms and filling them to capacity. These children would easily have ended up on the streets and become delinquents and a nuisance and danger to public order and peace.
But the free education policy has changed all that. They now have the opportunity of becoming anything they desire.
As NAQEZ has observed, the UPND government has not ended at making education free. It is now acting to ensure that all the children that trooped back to classes are comfortably accommodated by building more classes in schools across the country.
The President’s directive that no child should sit on the floor in a classroom by the end of this year has seen how thousands of desks being made and delivered to schools. It’s only a matter of time before all children are comfortably accommodated in classrooms.
The overwhelming response to free education is a clear indication that education was priced out of reach for the vast majority of our people.
Clearly, many poor households that may have wanted to send their children to schools were unable to do so.
It is, therefore, gratifying, as NAQEZ Central Province secretary Justin Kabungo observes, that Government is committed to enabling poor households to provide food for school-going children through social cash transfer.
Government has further enhanced its school feeding programme for vulnerable pupils. In addition to this, programmes such as the school health programme, which Government is running in collaboration with partners, will reduce absenteeism, enhance the quality of education and ensure that pupils remain in schools.
In addition to these programmes, Government is providing secondary school and skills development bursaries through enhanced Constituency Development Fund to ensure that all those who will and qualify for such educational opportunities can seize them without being disadvantaged by their weak financial muscles.
All these measures have the net effect of ensuring an educated citizenry in the long term.
And sustainable development relies heavily on a well-educated population that can adapt to changing circumstances and contribute to the growth of various sectors. By prioritising education, UPND is not only investing in the current generation but also ensuring that future generations have the necessary skills and knowledge to address the challenges of tomorrow.
UPND’s emphasis on education reflects a forward-thinking approach to governance and a recognition of the critical role that education plays in preparing citizens for a rapidly changing world where technology and globalisation are transforming the way we work and live.