Zambia Launches "Go Public! Fund Education" Campaign to Enhance Educational Quality

The "Go Public! Fund Education" campaign has been officially launched in Lusaka, marking an important milestone in Zambia's commitment to improving public education. Spearheaded by Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, Africa Director of Education International Africa, this initiative aims to tackle the pressing challenges faced by public education systems and ensure every child has access to quality learning environments. Zambia joins 24 other African nations in this movement, and the campaign seeks to mobilize support for heightened investment in education.
 
During the launch, Dr. Sinyolo appreciated the Zambian government's significant strides in the education sector, particularly for introducing free education from early childhood to Grade 12 and recruiting over 40,000 teachers in the past three years. He emphasized that these efforts align with Sustainable Development Goal 4, which advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education for all. However, he warned that considerable challenges persist, including a shortage of qualified teachers and inadequate funding, which currently accounts for only 14.5% of the national budget—below the recommended benchmark of 20%.
 
Dr. Sinyolo called on the Zambian government to increase its education funding to at least 20% of the national budget or 6% of GDP to facilitate the recruitment of more teachers, improve school infrastructure, and provide necessary educational resources. He urged the international community, particularly the G20, to address debt relief for Zambia and other African nations to unlock additional resources for public services.
 
The Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Syakalima highlighted the campaign's significance in addressing the quality of public education. He reinforced the government's commitment to ensuring that every child has access to high-quality educational resources and opportunities.
 
The campaign emphasizes the necessity of a well-funded public education system where every child is taught by qualified and supported teachers in safe, well-resourced classrooms. As Zambia embraces this important initiative, the hope is to catalyze significant investment in education that benefits all citizens.
 
Mr. Harry Kamboni, the Honourable Member of Parliament for Kalomo Central and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee in charge of Education underscored the importance of joining forces to advocate for increased funding in the education sector, recognizing that while progress has been made, much more is needed to meet the growing demands of the education system.
 
The three Education International member organizations; BETUZ, SESTUZ, and ZNUT—worked together to enhance the campaign's goals, stressing the critical need for greater investment in public education. United in their efforts, these unions represented the unified voice of educators and highlighted the campaign's importance in advocating for quality education and equitable resources.
 
In addition to these calls for increased funding, the launch featured remarks from various stakeholders, including representatives from the Zambian Congress of Trade Unions, Action Aid, and other civil society organizations within the education sector. They echoed the sentiment that education is a public good and a fundamental equalizer of opportunities.
 
As Zambia embarks on this critical campaign, the collective aim is to ensure that every school-going child in Zambia has access to quality education, ultimately fostering a brighter future for the nation.
 

[Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:07:13 +0000] | DIGG THIS


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