Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that education is provided to all without segregation.
Chikankata District Commissioner, Timothy Chipolyonga says government is aware of some salient issues in the education sector that need attention and has since indicated that some have already been catered for in the 2023 national budget.
Speaking when he officiated at the 2022 World Teachers Day celebrations in Chikankata District, Mr. Chipolyonga indicated that next year, government intends to resolve the critical shortage of classroom space by building more schools as well as completing the unfinished schools that have remained incomplete for some time now.
The celebration which took place at the Civic Centre, under the theme, “The Transformation of Education begins with Teachers” was aimed at celebrating the transformative and critical role that teachers play in growing learners’ potential.
Mr. Chipolyonga stated that the transformation of education can already be seen in the efforts and steps that the new dawn government under the leadership of His Excellency, the president of the republican of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema is undertaking, such as the re-introduction of free education, the unprecedented recruitment of over 30, 000 teachers across 116 districts of the country, as well as an increased share allocation in the national budget.
He notes that the achievements recorded so far are a clear indication that the new dawn government is committed to fulfilling its campaign promises and beyond.
And Chikankata District Council Chairperson, Conrad Ngoma has challenged teachers to take keen interest in the affairs of their various localities through the Ward Development Committees.
Mr. Ngoma says this is one way the teachers would understand and appreciate community concerns pertaining to the education sector.
The Council Chairperson has stated that the Council is fully aware of the challenges being faced in the education sector and has since indicated that the unprecedented increase of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from 1.6 million kwacha to 25.7 million kwacha in 2021 and ultimately 28.3 million kwacha in 2023, is a deliberate move in transforming the livelihood of the citizens.
Speaking earlier, District Board Education Secretary, who was represented by the District Education Standards Officer, Oliver Kambuli says the district is grateful to the new dawn government for the 160 teachers that were allocated to Chikankata during the recent unprecedented teacher recruitment exercise, as well as the re-introduction of the free education policy, which he says is an opportunity for every child to attain education.
Dr. Kambuli says the policies and pronouncements for the education sector by government is a clear indication that the future of the country’s education sector is bright.
He has since appealed for concerted effort in addressing the shortage of learning space to match with the increase in the number of pupils accessing education.
Chikankata district today joined the rest of the country and world at large in commemorating World Teachers Day, under the theme; “The Transformation of Education begins with Teachers.”
This is contained in a statement issued by Chikankata town Council Public Relations Officer
Namasiku C. Njovu.