Muthomi Ireri
A free education program in Zambia has led to a significant increase in student enrollment, but the quality of education remains low due to insufficient infrastructure.
In 2021, the Zambian government introduced free primary and secondary education. Three years later, an additional two million students are attending school across the country.
While this initiative is widely viewed as a positive step for the future of young Zambians, the lack of concurrent investment in infrastructure threatens the quality of education.
Overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of teachers, and a lack of desks and textbooks mean students are not meeting key educational targets set by the government, according to UNICEF.
While 87.9% of children are enrolled in primary school, net enrollment in secondary school is only 42.9%, with a 67.5% transition rate from primary to secondary education.
“Education is the best economic policy”
This increase in enrollment is part of a broader trend in sub-Saharan Africa, where more children are in school than ever before, according to UNICEF.
In February, the African Union launched its “Year of Education 2024” initiative, urging governments across the continent to “accelerate progress towards achieving quality education for all.”
Policymakers should now focus on improving the quality of education, according to UNICEF.
With over $1 billion already invested in Zambia’s education sector since 2021, the government plans to build over 170 new schools and recruit 55,000 new teachers by 2026. So far, 37,000 teachers have been hired.
Despite the challenges, Education Minister Douglas Syakalima views overcrowding as a “good problem,” emphasizing that education is “the best economic policy.”
“I’d rather let the children be in a congested classroom than on the street,” he says.
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