ZANEC

Author: ZANEC

  • THE SPEECH READ BY ZANEC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DURING THE JOINT EDUCATION SUBSECTOR COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY, 2018

    THE SPEECH READ BY ZANEC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DURING THE JOINT EDUCATION SUBSECTOR COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 28TH FEBRUARY, 2018

    ZANEC BOARD MEMBERS,

    ZANEC MEMBER ORGANISATIONS,

    ZANEC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,

    ALL PROTOCOLS OBSERVED,

     

    LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

    FIRST OF ALL I WELCOME YOU ALL TO THIS IMPORTANT MEETING. I ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SALUTE THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE COME FROM OUTSIDE LUSAKA FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TRAVEL TO BE PRESENT AT THIS MEETING. YOUR PRESENCE IS A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION OF HOW YOU VALUE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO THE COALITION.

    THIS MEETING IS “DUBBED A JOINT SUBSECTOR MEETING” WHERE WE WILL BE SHARING THE 2018 ANNUAL WORK PLAN AND BUDGET FOR THE COALITION.  THIS MEETING IS OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE AS IT AIMS TO HELP US MOVE TOGETHER IN ENSURING THAT ‘NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND’ IN RECEIVING QUALITY EDUCATION IN ZAMBIA. THIS MEETING THEREFORE, WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW, AS A COALITION, WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO MAINSTREAM GENDER, EQUALITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION IN OUR WORK. AS YOU MAY ALL BE AWARE THE FIVE (5) EDUCATION SUBSECTOR COMMITTEES ARE ALIGNED TO NATIONAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS SECTORS. THE SUBSECTORS ARE DELIBERATELY DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE PARTICIPATION OF YOU THE MEMBER ORGANISATIONS IN COALITION ACTIVITIES.

    LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

    PLANNING, COMMUNICATION AND SHARING IS KEY IN THE SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY OF THE 2018 ACTIVITIES AND IN THE LONG TERM ACHIEVEMENT OF THE STRATEGIC GOAL IN OUR FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT RUNS FROM 2016 TO 2020.  AS THE SAYING GOES THOSE WHO DO NOT PLAN HAVE ALREADY PLANNED TO FAIL.  I THEREFORE, URGE ALL OF YOU GATHERED HERE TODAY TO TAKE THIS MEETING SERIOUSLY AND SHARE THE DELIBERATIONS AND OUTCOMES OF THIS MEETING WITHIN YOUR ORGANISATIONS, AS IT WILL ALLOW FOR EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2018 ANNUAL WORK PLAN AND BUDGET.

     

    I ALSO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL TO ALL OF US ZANEC MEMBER ORGANISATIONS TO SHARE ACTIVITY REPORTS MONTHLY, QUARTERLY AND EVEN ANNUALLY WITH ZANEC SECRETARIAT SO THAT WE MOVE AT THE SAME PACE AND HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO COALITION INTERVENTIONS AND REPORTING.

    LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

    THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS TAKES THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THOSE OF YOU OPERATING FROM OUTSIDE LUSAKA TO BE PARTICIPATING ACTIVELY IN THE EDUCATION SUBSECTOR COMMITTEE’S QUARTERLY MEETINGS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES. I AM  AWARE THAT THE SECRETARIAT ARE STRIVING THIS YEAR AND BEYOND TO INVOLVE MEMBERS OUTSIDE LUSAKA IN THE SUBSECTOR ACTIVITIES IN AN EFFORT TO BALANCE THE PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS IN COALITION ACTIVITIES, THEREBY HAVING A HOLISTIC APPROACH IN FOSTERING QUALITY EDUCATION FOR EVERY ZAMBIAN.  IT IS VITAL TO NOTE THAT THE PARTICIPATION IS IN A LOT OF FORMS AND DOES NOT ONLY MEAN PHYSICAL PRESENCE.

    I THEREFORE URGE YOU ALL TO LISTEN ATTENTIVELY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DELIBERATIONS OF THIS MEETING AS THE 2018 ZANEC WORK PLAN AND BUDGET IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL OF US GATHERED HERE TODAY TO ENSURE THAT IT IS SUCCESSFULLY AND EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED.

    MAY I CONCLUDE BY EMPHASING OUR RESOLVE AS BOARD OF GOVERNORS THROUGH YOU TO ENSURE THAT EACH SUBSECTOR COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON ONE STRATEGIC DELIVERABLE FOR 2018 TO WHICH ALL OF US AS INDIVIDUAL ORGANISATIONS AND COLLECTIVELY WILL RALLY TO ACHIEVE BY DECEMBER. THIS IS SO THAT IN 2019 WE TAKE ON OTHER ISSUES.

    MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

  • Welcome Speech at the ZANEC 7th General  Assembly  held on the 24th November, 2017 at Mika Hotel in Kabulonga, Lusaka

    Welcome Speech at the ZANEC 7th General  Assembly  held on the 24th November, 2017 at Mika Hotel in Kabulonga, Lusaka

    The Guest of Honor;

    Board Members;

    Coalition Members;

    ZANEC Executive Director and Secretariat staff.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, Guest of Honour,

    It is my singular honor and privilege to deliver this speech during our 7th General Assembly. Let me mention from the onset that this General Assembly is different as it is the first to be conducted under the amended Constitution. This means that the agenda for this General Assembly does not include elections since the constitution now allows for a term of four years for the Board of Governors.

    The theme for this year’s General Assembly is: “Developing a Sustainable Coalition through effective Partnerships”.  The decision to arrive at this theme is against the background that it has become more than necessary for Civil Society to understand that participation in the spaces provided for us to make improvements in the Education and Skill Sector are enhanced and maximized through partnerships.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, Guest of Honour,

    Annually the Coalition arrives at mutually agreed upon work plans that harness our shared values and systems. It is for this reason that our planned activities include capacity enhancement; networking at the national, sub regional and international level; and designing of tools for monitoring and evaluating the outcome of these efforts. The idea behind the theme is to prepare the Coalition to remain resilient, be strong, resourceful, and sustainably resourced both financially and technically.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, Guest of Honour,

    Since its inception, the Coalition has been and continues to create partnerships that allow for us to progressively move towards achieving our goal of advocating for quality education for every Zambian. We therefore recognize the operating space provided by our government through the Ministries responsible for Education. It is our desire to continue working in partnership with the Ministries responsible for Education and Skills to ensure that qualitative and quantitative improvements are realized in the Education and Skills Sector.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, Guest of Honour,

    The year 2017 has seen the increased interest for CSOs to become members of the Coalition. Not only so but in our individual capacity we have realized that creating synergies with fellow CSOs such as Civil Society for Poverty Reduction, the Civil Society Poverty Observatory Group, OXFAM Zambia just to mention a few; are important if we are to be significantly involved in monitoring progress made in the sector.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, Guest of Honour,

    In line with our theme for this General Assembly, for us to be a sustainable Coalition, especially financially, we must be able to think outside the box. Reductions in traditional forms of funding globally and locally mean that as a Coalition, we must seek alternative sources of income. It is important to note that overcoming dependency on external sources is a challenge which as a Coalition we are struggling with. As such to gain any form of sustainability as a Coalition we must be able to “Strategically and effectively handle change.” It is for this reason that as a Board, in close liaison with ZANEC’s Management, our vision is to have a ZANEC House by the close of 2019.

     Ladies and Gentlemen, Guest of Honour,

    As we are gathered here today in order to ensure our sustainability and management of effective partnerships, I call on all Coalition Members to:

    1. Continue developing their capacity through the avenues and opportunities the Coalition provides so as to adapt and cope with change.
    2. Develop relationships with like-minded organisations.
    3. Ensure resources are utilized effectively and creatively to meet the intended goals and targets.
    4. Run with the Coalition’s agenda even as we implement our own organizational activities so that we are able to effectively mobilize communities to demand for quality education.

     Ladies and Gentlemen, Guest of Honour,

    Sustainability isn’t just funding. We also need to build the institutional capacity of our Coalition but also that of individual Member Organizations. Let me conclude by calling upon the Coalition to come out of this General Assembly with alternative and innovative routes to funding. If as a Coalition we do not prove to be accountable and legitimate to the Zambian learner, we will no longer be relevant. I therefore call on the Coalition to look back, broader, deeper and forward.

    I thank you All, and God Bless ZANEC!

    Read by ZANEC Board Chairperson, Mr. Kabika Kakunta

     

  • ZANEC Speech during the meeting advocating for Enactment of Legislation to Protect Academic Freedoms for Institutions of Higher Learning

    The Government Officials Represented Here

    Honorable Members of Parliament,

    ZANEC Board Members,

    Students, 

    The media,

    The facilitator,

    All Protocols observed,

     

     Ladies and Gentlemen,

    It is my singular honor and privilege to welcome you all distinguished guests to this meeting. I am glad to note that in our midst we have Parliamentarians from the Education, Science and Technology Committee whom we hope to be our strong advocates in ensuring that legislation is put in place to protect Academic Freedoms in Institutions of Higher Learning. This engagement will allow ZANEC to advocate for the introduction of legislature to protect Academic Freedoms which in turn will provide for the provision of quality education.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, ZANEC has learnt that a lot of stakeholders do not understand Academic Freedoms and hence the non-practice therefore, it is very important to define Academic Freedoms.  According to the dictionary Academic Freedom is the freedom of lecturers and students to teach, study and pursue knowledge and research without unreasonable interference or restriction from law, institutional regulation or public pressure.

    For those of you who may not be aware, Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) is a Coalition of 68 non-state actors working in the Education and Skills Sector. It is a recognized institution advocating for improved quality and access to education by all citizens. The organization is involved in research and capacity enhancement on different aspects of the education system in Zambia. The Coalition has been advocating for quality education for every Zambian at all levels of Education through sub-sectors namely:

    • Early Childhood, Care, Development and Education (ECCDE)
    • Basic Education (Primary and Secondary)
    • Adult Literacy Education
    • Youth Skills and Tertiary Education
    • Gender, Equity and Equality

    Ladies and Gentlemen it is through the Youth Skills and Tertiary Education Subsector that the Coalition has been advocating for Academic Freedoms in Institutions of Higher Learning. The background of ZANEC advocating for legislation to protect Academic Freedoms began in 2013.  When ZANEC started earnestly focusing on contributing to the quality of education delivered through our Institutions of Higher Learning. In 2014 a study was commissioned to look into the state of Academic Freedoms in the country and perception of Academic staff and students. The study highlighted the lack of guiding principles on Academic Freedoms in Institutions of Higher Learning. As such, one of the key recommendation was that ZANEC advocates for legislature to protect Academic Freedoms.

    In 2016, ZANEC through a consultative process drafted a generic Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Freedoms. This document was validated by identified private and public Institutions of Higher Learning and Student Union Leaders. The Ministry of Higher Education and several government agencies equally bought into the idea of Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Freedoms. It is based on the foregoing reasons that ZANEC is therefore, engaging you as law makers to begin instigating for an Act to provide and protect the practice of Academic Freedoms in our Institutions of Higher Learning.

    Ladies and Gentlemen it is also important to note that this year (2017) commemorates the 20th anniversary of 1997 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel. The recommendation underscores the necessity of Academic Freedoms and university autonomy for both teaching and research and also articulates the rights academic staff should have. Therefore, it is significant to add that lecturers’ and students’ Academic Freedoms are very critical for Institutions of Higher Learning to meaningfully contribute to national development. Therefore, the quest for a legal framework to protect Academic Freedoms could not have come at a better time.

    With these few remarks I urge you all to take this opportunity and fully participate in this engagement as your views and commitments are of great value to ZANEC and for the progress of the Education and Skills Sector in Zambia.

    May God Bless you all!

    Read by ZANEC Board Secretary  Mr. Hamilton Mambo

  • ZANEC MEDIA STATEMENT ON 2016 AUDITOR GENERALS REPORT – EUDCATION AND SKILLS SECTOR

    ZANEC MEDIA STATEMENT ON 2016 AUDITOR GENERALS REPORT – EUDCATION AND SKILLS SECTOR

    Zambia National Education Coalition’s (ZANEC’s) mandate is to ensure that quality education is provided to every Zambian. This mandate heavily depends on government’s investment to the Education and Skills Sector.  Therefore, the resources allocated to Ministries and Spending Agencies (MSPA) are provided to ensure services are delivered to every Zambian Learner.

    It is with uttermost sadness that the Coalition today stands to rebuke and call for an end to the rampant and shameless abuse of public resources meant for the Zambian learner. This is through the highlighted misapplication, misappropriation and failure to retire funds in the Auditor General’s Report for the financial year ending 31st December, 2016.

    ZAMBIA NATIONA EDUCTION COALITIONS OPINION

    The statement of Revenue, Financing and Expenditure indicates that the government had a budget of K53, 273,188,772. A supplementary budget amounting to K 9,446,300,603 was approved, this brought the total National Budget for 2016 to K 62,719,480,375. Yet during the financial year the government only spent K 51,739,890,715 hence an under expenditure of K 10,979,598,660. This already highlights government’s poor financial management system rendering it inefficient and unrealistic. The under expenditure is explained as a saving.  This scenario would beg the question: Do we as a country have the luxury to save allocated budget lines when all sectors are under financed at the most rendering public offices unable to provide much needed services? The Education and Skills Sector is no exception to this case.

    Recommendations of the Auditor General and the Parliamentary Accounts Committee over the years and 2015 specifically have all fallen on deaf ears. The Secretary to the Treasury, Accountant General and the Department of Internal Auditor in MPSA’s must account to us (tax payers) why there is a continued rise in the abuse of public resources with impunity. The failure to act on highlighted irregularities begins to make us wonder whether tax payer’s money is safe in their custody at all and should be entrusted to such duty bearers.

    As a Coalition we are angry that the following issues are continuously highlighted:

    1. A total of K 3,488,327 was paid out to Lawrence Bwalya Phiri, Moses Thole and I Sibajane. The trio misappropriated funds and hence could not account for the money. One of the payments purported to be for the District Education Boards Secretary’s Office was paid out to Mr. L Bwalya.

    The misappropriated resources are equivalent to providing education services to 96,898 Primary level Zambian learners as allocations in form of school grants or 75, 180 Secondary Schools Zambian learners as allocations in form of school grant.  Are these three selfish officers greater than providing an education for the mentioned learners? We demand the immediate suspension and institution of investigation by the responsible wings of government so that these culprits are punished accordingly.

    Education Sub Sector   Misappropriated figure Equivalence of  number of Zambian learners who would have been provided with Education Services
    Primary  School grant K 3,488,327 96,898
    Secondary School grant K 3,488,327 75,180

    *The calculation is based on the population of learners at secondary and primary level as per Education Statistical Bulletin of 2016 by the misappropriated figure by the three officers

    We observe with concern how these payments were approved through a system that is supposed to be water tight so as to ring-fence public resources.

    1. Payments amounting to K 571, 610 were processed without corresponding stamps from Bank of Zambia and were not posted in the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS). The IFMIS is a financial management system allowed to provide necessary controls, yet officers in the Ministry have found ways to manipulate the system so as to loot public resources. Proper financing procedures call for all documentation to have necessary stamps and posted into the system failure to do so is a clear indication of deep- rooted financial mismanagement schemes in the Ministry of General Education.
    2. Controlling Officers in the Ministries responsible for Education and Skills, as evidenced from the Auditor General’s Report, are either not providing leadership or are part of the abuse of public resources or have been caught up in the DEEP ROOTED ENTRENCHED CORRUPTION which has seen a collapse in the management of public resources allowing for the rampant misuse and misappropriation of public resources.
    3. Failure to follow laid down rules and regulations with regard to retirement of accountable imprest. The following officers were cited during the Audit to have failed to retire public funds after 1 year 5 months :
      1. Rodger Mulawo
      2. Lazarous Chanda
    • Ivy Sibajane ( Second siting in the report)
    1. Davison Zimba

    At the time of the audit, the officers could not account for K 2,484,653 and only availed retirements in September, 2017; 1 year 5 months down the line. We therefore question the validity of these retirements and whether the activities earmarked for these monies actually took place. We demand that these Officers be prosecuted and this money be refunded to the Education and Skills Sector. This is not the only case. The two Ministries responsible for Education and Skills are constantly cited for questionable retirement of accountable imprest. We demand that the necessary and befitting action is taken against the four officers.

    1. The Auditor General further highlights that the key matter raised in the 2016 audit were stemming from Personal Emoluments. Public Officers charged with the responsibility to manage the payroll are no longer seeing the need to be accountable. As such, the report raises a number of issues.
      1. Misplacement of the pay roll
      2. Paying in the wrong notches
      3. Wrong salary scale
      4. Underpayments
      5. Absent without leave but still on the pay roll.
      6. Payment of housing allowance to officers already in government houses.

    It has taken the Auditor General to highlight pertinent financial irregularities which were supposed to be captured by the Internal Auditor in the two ministries. The Personal Emolument issues raised points to a growing curtail involving end users and some teachers and also unsuspecting officers on the payroll for the two Ministries.

    1. Undelivered Teaching and Learning Materials: the case of Central Province where we have 448,976 undelivered text book when our schools are struggling with national book: pupil ratio of 0.96 at primary and 0.72 at secondary school. The DEB’s failure to deliver text books to schools is equally unacceptable.

     

    1. The Ministry of Higher Education is cited for unacceptable financial errors that continue to deprive the Zambian Learner a chance to access higher education. The irregularities cited include payments made without supporting documentation, failure to correct double posting, under and overpayment of allowances characterize student bursary awards for those abroad and at home.

     

    The government faces a huge financial challenge to provide Scholarships and Bursaries to all eligible viable and deserving students due to a limited resource envelope. However, the report indicates that unverified payments are made directly to University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Copperbelt University (CBU). The Ministry of Higher Education did not verify these bills and the Ministry of Finance paid out according to the invoice and below were the anomalies:

     

    1. 41 students who were not registered at CBU or screened by the Bursaries Committee were paid K 722,465.
    2. 540 students at UNZA who were not eligible for sponsorship as they were not registered were paid K 7,799, 164.

    The two scenarios facilitated for 581 students amounting to K 8,521,629 to be paid out to undeserving students. Yet in the 2016/2017 awarding of Scholarships and Loans to eligible applicants several were left out due to limited resources.

    Funds committed to providing Skills Education were misapplied to conduct the following activities:

    1. K 3,000,000 went to pay for Management Support Services at the expense of procuring Laboratory Equipment.
    2. K 2, 700,546 went to pay for leave pay, subsistence allowance and allowances for university students at the expense of settling student bills.
    3. K2, 668, 119 went to purchase a motor vehicle for a Constitution Office Holder, furniture for the HQ at the expense of procuring equipment for Skills Centers.

    As a Coalition we are shocked that the Ministry’s prioritization into unsubstantiated short term investments such as the purchase of vehicles, furniture and personnel emolument related expenses which are not even part of the output indicators in the Education and Skills Budget are done at the expense of long term investment into learners that will benefit the nation at large. It is disheartening and clearly shows the misplaced priorities by our Public Officers who are entrusted with the responsibility to manage public resources.

    In conclusion, as a Coalition we call for the overhaul of the entire system and a change of mindset that public offices are not a watering well for officers to create get-rich cartels at the expense of national development. As a country we should be moving towards maximum utilization of public resources to ensure we achieve targets set for ourselves in the Seventh National Development Plan and Vision 2030.

     

    RECOMMENDATIONS

    1. Supplementary budget should not be approved until all allocated budget lines are released so as to allow for accurate accounting.
    2. Secretary to the Treasury and Accountant General key performance indicators for their jobs to be linked to deliverables such as reducing mismanagement of public resources and this should be enshrined in the Constitution.
    3. Lawrence Bwalya Phiri, Moses Thole and L Sibajane Ministry of General Education Officers, must pay back the misappropriated money and face the wrath of the Law to deter future abuse of education resources.
    4. Law Association of Zambia must rise up to the challenge and provide direction to the nation where the National Budget is Law yet all the cited irregularities are a clear abrogation of the law.
    5. The appointment of controlling officers should be limited to officers who have risen through the ranks in government so that we have officers who understand the rules and regulations so as to protect public resources.
    6. The Auditor General should be given powers to prosecute erring officers.
    7. Immediate arrest of all cited and erring officers in the Auditor General’s Report.
    8. Increased supervision of the ministries responsible for education by the Ministry of Finance.
    9. The President to use the constitutional powers entrusted in him to provide leadership to bring to an end these “ Public officers money syphoning curtails”  and discipline the erring government officials whom have been found wanting.
    10. Drawing accountable imprest on behalf of other Ministry Officials must end and be drawn in the spending officers name so as to encourage accountability.

    Grace M Sinkamba

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Issued on 17th November, 2017

  • Press Statement on increased fees at the University of Zambia

    Press Statement on increased fees at the University of Zambia

    Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) is concerned with the sharp increase in the fees for accommodation, examinations as well as the internet services. We note that accommodation fees have been increased from K1, 200 to K3, 900 which is a 300% increment. The examination fees have also been increased from K100 per year to K50 per course. Additionally, internet has been increased from K55 to K194 per year.

    We are mindful also of the fact that the cost of doing business in any sector is actually increasing because we ourselves are also affected. However, our concern is that the increment of fees and services by 300% is too drastic. Fees should have been increased gradually and progressively.

    The Coalition, is therefore, calling upon University of Zambia (UNZA) Management to revise the new fee structure so that it is attainable by the majority of students, especially those that are poor and vulnerable.

    ZANEC is alive to the predicament that management at UNZA has in terms of managing the operations of the institution. This is more so given the fact that government ill funds the institution, and yet expects the university to operate at optimal capacity. We are also mindful that UNZA is peculiar amongst all other universities because it is the mother of universities in the country. This means that UNZA in the past enjoyed monopoly funding support from government. However, currently there are a number of public universities that have been created in the recent years. This means that government resource envelop has to be spread out amongst all the Institutions of Higher Learning in the country.

    Furthermore, we are mindful that the financing towards Institutions of Higher Learning is very minimal in the education budget. In 2018 it is 17.1% and in 2017 it was only 13.7% of the entire education budget that was allocated to higher education. Therefore, the amount that goes into UNZA for example is not adequate to carter for salaries of lecturers, ensuring that electricity and water is paid for, among other things. Moreover, the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has informed UNZA and Copperbelt University to seek alternative ways of financing. One immediate way for management to raise funds is to charge commercial fees.

    We are further aware that in August (2017) about 8,000 students were owing the institution over K58 million unpaid fees. These students were not going to sit for exams or have access to university services. However, these students were allowed to write exams after a Presidential directive.  It is in the same vein that we are appealing to UNZA Management to look into this matter because we know that a number of students will not be able to pay these fees. This might increase the number of students that will drop out of the Institution. This defeats the purpose of the seventh National Development Plan of “leaving no one behind.”

    Grace M. Sinkamba

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

     

    Issued on 28th of October, 2017

  • Press statement on the 2018 National Budget Address by the Minister of Finance

    Press statement on the 2018 National Budget Address by the Minister of Finance

    PRESS STATEMENT ON THE 2018 NATIONAL BUDGET ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF FINANCE

    ZANEC appreciates the fact that government recognizes the importance of the Education and Skills Sector considering that it has the third highest share of the National Budget. However, the Coalition is concerned that the Education and Skills Sector has been allocated K11, 561,645,204.00 which only translates into 16.1 % of the 2018 National Budget. This is a reduction from the 2017 allocation of 16.5 % and a further departure from the regional and international commitments the government has signed such as the Cairo and SADC Protocols which require that all member countries allocate a minimum of 20% of the national budget to Education.   The Education and Skills Sector has seen a reduction in allocation as a share of the National Budget from 2015 as follows; 2015 (20.2%), 2016 (17.2%), 2017 (16.5%) and 2018 (16.1%). ZANEC is concerned with this trend.

    The 2018 National Budget is anchored on the theme “Accelerating fiscal fitness for sustained inclusive growth without leaving anyone behind.” The theme provides assurance of the government’s resolve not to leave anyone behind as espoused in the Sustainable Development Goals. This is in tandem with the Coalition’s motto “Promoting quality education for every Zambian”. The government commits economic growth as a process to stimulate national development.  The Coalition strongly believes that the sustainability of national development in the 2018 National Budget depends on investment in human capital of which education should be at the center. To ensure that no one is left behind, it is the Coalition’s anticipation that the detailed budget allocation has taken into consideration issues of inclusion, such as Learners with Special Education Needs (LSEN), gender aspects, orphans and vulnerable children.

    As a Coalition, we welcome the rehabilitation of existing infrastructure at all levels of the Education and Skills Sector. However, the continued construction of new universities and colleges must be matched with adequate financial allocations to needs such as teachers, lecturers, teaching and learning materials as well as maintenance of the old universities and colleges. ZANEC sadly notes that the current Institutions of Higher Learning are operating under dilapidated infrastructure and obsolete equipment.

    It is gratifying to note that the Skills Development Levy raised K105.4 million in 2017. This is a move in the right direction as the government strives to enhance domestic financing of the sector. We urge the Government to ensure efficient utilization of the resources raised to benefit the Skills Sub Sector. The ZANEC analysis of the Auditor General’s Report for the financial year ending December, 2015 highlights alarming levels of misapplication of resources. This defeats all efforts in the delivery of quality education in the midst of insufficient resource allocation to the sector.

    The School Feeding Programme which has been scaled up in the 2018 national budget to increase the number of beneficiaries from 1.2 million to 1.5 million learners is a welcome move. This will enhance nutrition, pupil retention, participation and progression rates for learners. It is the Coalitions hope that this budget allocation will be used for the intended purpose and that learners in low income households will benefit from the programme.

    ZANEC commends the government for committing to support 16, 000 girls from extremely poor households in 16 districts from the World Bank support. Nevertheless, ZANEC is calling upon the Government to involve all stakeholders in the selection processes, so that deserving girls benefit from the program. We further implore Cooperating Partners to release finances in a timely and efficient manner, in line with the school calendar. The Coalition therefore, will take keen interest in following through the modalities of selection and the conditions in place for support of the deserving girls.

    Furthermore, we would like to remind the government to ensure that funds are released and utilized in an efficient and timely manner in order to achieve access and quality education at all levels. The Coalition strongly believes that attainment of quality education is a combination of input (resources), processes (implementation/utilization) and outcome (impact / results).

    ZANEC noted that the Minister of Finance’s Budget Speech did not make mention of the allocation towards Early Childhood Education (ECE) as well as adult education and literacy. These are important sub sectors that impact the other education and skills subsectors. It is ZANEC’s observation that the subsector have been marginally allocated with resources in previous budgets. The Coalition will be able to issue an in-depth position after a close scrutiny of the education and skills detailed budget as provided for in the yellow book. This statement is an immediate reaction to the Minister of Finance Budget Speech and the Presidential speech during the Official Opening of the Second Session of the Twelfth National Assembly on 15th September, 2017.

     Grace M. Sinkamba

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Issued on 7th October 2017

  • Speech read by ZANEC Board Secretary During the Meeting Advocating for Legislation to Protect Academic Freedoms

    Speech read by ZANEC Board Secretary During the Meeting Advocating for Legislation to Protect Academic Freedoms

    The Government Officials Represented Here

    Honorable Members of Parliament,

    ZANEC Board Members,

    Students, 

    The media,

    The facilitator,

    All Protocols observed,

     

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    It is my singular honor and privilege to welcome you all distinguished guests to this meeting. I am glad to note that in our midst we have Parliamentarians from the Education, Science and Technology Committee whom we hope to be our strong advocates in ensuring that legislation is put in place to protect Academic Freedoms in Institutions of Higher Learning. This engagement will allow ZANEC to advocate for the introduction of legislature to protect Academic Freedoms which in turn will provide for the provision of quality education.

     

    Ladies and Gentlemen, ZANEC has learnt that a lot of stakeholders do not understand Academic Freedoms and hence the non-practice therefore, it is very important to define Academic Freedoms.  According to the dictionary Academic Freedom is the freedom of lecturers and students to teach, study and pursue knowledge and research without unreasonable interference or restriction from law, institutional regulation or public pressure.

    For those of you who may not be aware, Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) is a Coalition of 68 non-state actors working in the Education and Skills Sector. It is a recognized institution advocating for improved quality and access to education by all citizens. The organization is involved in research and capacity enhancement on different aspects of the education system in Zambia. The Coalition has been advocating for quality education for every Zambian at all levels of Education through subsectors namely:

    • Early Childhood, Care, Development and Education (ECCDE)
    • Basic Education (Primary and Secondary)
    • Adult Literacy Education
    • Youth Skills and Tertiary Education
    • Gender, Equity and Equality

     

    Ladies and Gentlemen it is through the Youth Skills and Tertiary Education Subsector that the Coalition has been advocating for Academic Freedoms in Institutions of Higher Learning. The background of ZANEC advocating for legislation to protect Academic Freedoms began in 2013.  When ZANEC started earnestly focusing on contributing to the quality of education delivered through our Institutions of Higher Learning. In 2014 a study was commissioned to look into the state of Academic Freedoms in the country and perception of Academic staff and students. The study highlighted the lack of guiding principles on Academic Freedoms in Institutions of Higher Learning. As such, one of the key recommendation was that ZANEC advocates for legislature to protect Academic Freedoms.

    In 2016, ZANEC through a consultative process drafted a generic Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Freedoms. This document was validated by identified private and public Institutions of Higher Learning and Student Union Leaders. The Ministry of Higher Education and several government agencies equally bought into the idea of Code of Conduct and Policy on Academic Freedoms. It is based on the foregoing reasons that ZANEC is therefore, engaging you as law makers to begin instigating for an Act to provide and protect the practice of Academic Freedoms in our Institutions of Higher Learning.

    Ladies and Gentlemen it is also important to note that this year (2017) commemorates the 20th anniversary of 1997 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel. The recommendation underscores the necessity of Academic Freedoms and university autonomy for both teaching and research and also articulates the rights academic staff should have. Therefore, it is significant to add that lecturers’ and students’ Academic Freedoms are very critical for Institutions of Higher Learning to meaningfully contribute to national development. Therefore, the quest for a legal framework to protect Academic Freedoms could not have come at a better time.

    With these few remarks I urge you all to take this opportunity and fully participate in this engagement as your views and commitments are of great value to ZANEC and for the progress of the Education and Skills Sector in Zambia.

    May God Bless you all!

     

    Read on the 12th of October, 2017

  • 2017 WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY

    2017 WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY

    Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) joins the rest of the World in commemorating Teachers’ Day which falls on 5th October, 2017. As we are all aware, teachers play a very critical role in the Education and Skills Sector for social, cultural, political and economic development of any given country as they mould and prepare everyone.

    Indeed everyone has passed through a classroom of some kind.  It goes without saying that the teaching profession is at the center of any meaningful development of human resource. Therefore, ZANEC salutes teachers and lecturers that have labored and continue to educate the nation.

    This year’s theme “Teaching in Freedom Empowering Teachers” is well received as it contains two critical words: Freedom and Empowering. Freedom means the right to act while empowering means helping someone to realize their full potential. As ZANEC, we believe that a teacher and a lecturer should have the freedom to adequately teach and provide guidance to his or her pupils and students without fear or favor. On one hand empowerment means that effective teaching can only be made a reality if teachers and lecturers are empowered in terms of their earnings as well as continuous professional development.

    ZANEC notes with serious concern that the conditions of our teachers have remained unattractive. As such, the teaching profession has lost a lot of brilliant teachers to other professions as a result of poor conditions of service. It has also come to our attention that some private schools’ management in Zambia are taking advantage of our teachers by paying them very low salaries and subjecting them to bad conditions of service.  ZANEC therefore, urges government and Teacher Trade Unions to strongly advocate for better conditions of service for our teachers in private schools.

    We call upon government to ensure that teachers are given living wages and empowered with conducive teaching environments with sufficient teaching aids, increased teacher recruitment to mitigate against the high pupil teacher ratios to allow them execute their duties passionately and diligently. ZANEC is further concerned that in a statement by the Minister of General Education (MoGE) to Parliament it was stated that only 2000 teachers will be recruited in 2017. The Coalition

    is of the considered view that this will adversely affect and worsen the current high teacher pupil ratios in schools. This is because the 2016 Education Statistical Bulletin shows that a total number of 8,139 teachers left teaching in 2015 and 6,475 left in 2016. The reduction in the number of teachers recruited affects the quality of education when enrolment of pupils has continued to increase.

    One of the targets in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number four (4) states that “By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through  international cooperation for teacher training in  developing countries, especially least  developed countries and small island developing States.” The fact that teachers are fundamental for equitable and quality education means that teachers should be “adequately trained, recruited and remunerated, motivated and supported within well-resourced, efficient and effectively governed systems. For  Zambia to achieve this target, it is necessary not only to substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers but to motivate them by valuing their work through appropriate remuneration.

    We use this opportunity therefore, to commend the efforts by the Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) in ensuring that Zambia has qualified teachers in our schools. The Coalition hopes that TCZ will expeditiously put in place measures to ensure that our teachers in community schools are recognized and empowered like those in public and private schools.

    It is important to note that the 2017 Teachers Day commemoration also coincides with the commemoration of 20th anniversary of the 1997 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel. The recommendation underscores the necessity of academic freedoms and university autonomy for both teaching and research and articulates the rights academic staff should have. It is important therefore to add that lecturers’ academic freedoms are very critical for Institutions of Higher Learning to meaningfully contribute to national development.

    As we commemorate this year’s World Teachers’ Day, we challenge teachers and lecturers alike to critically reflect on their role as we are sadly confronted with reality of the fact that the quality of the pupils being produced in the Education and Skills Sector has gone down. This is evidenced by the 2016 Education Statistical Bulletin which indicates that the number of candidates that got full Grade 12 certificates declined from 125,686 in 2015 to 78, 337 in 2016.  We therefore, urge our teachers to ensure that they impart teaching that will impact on learners beyond examinations to applicable knowledge and skills for everyday living and relevant to the current industrial needs.

    Lastly we wish all teachers including those in community schools and lecturers a fruitful 2017 Teachers Day.

    Grace M. Sinkamba

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

     Issued on 5th October 2017

  • ZANEC Expectations of the 2018 National Budget

    ZANEC Expectations of the 2018 National Budget

    As the nation looks forward to the presentation of the National Budget this week, Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) expects the Ministry of Finance to consider allocating 22 percent of the 2018 national budget towards the Education and Skills sector instead of the 16.5 percent in 2017.

    ZANEC which is composed of 68 different education sector oriented Non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) has consistently emphasized on the need for Zambia to oblige to the minimum threshold of allocating of 20 percent as per Cairo Protocol and Global Partnership for Education where the government made  commitment to this effect.

    As key stakeholders in the Education and Skills Sector, the Coalition is glad that in his address to the second session of the 12th National Assembly President Edgar Lungu reaffirmed his desire to increase government support to the Education and Skills Sector where several commitments were made towards the sector. It is the Coalition hope that these bold statements will be actualized through the allocation of matching resources in the 2018 national budget for the Education and Skills sector.

    ZANEC is concerned that the current budgetary support to the Early Childhood Care Development and Education (ECCDE) is only 0.01 percent of the education budget. This allocation is inadequate to provide for the expected results and impact. Further to this,  the continued failure by Ministry of Finance to disburse all allocated funds and disburse allocated budgeted lines in a timely manner has not allowed the sub-sector to adequately provide quality services.

    We are impressed that President Lungu also told parliament that the government would continue supporting vulnerable female learners to access education through a bursary scheme project titled “Keeping Girls in School” where over 14,000 girls have since benefited. ZANEC would like to further implore the government to release funds in a timely manner for this inter-ministerial project and we would like to know how much we are spending on servicing the loan to this project. To further support female learners, the government in the 2017 nation budget announced the provision of sanitary towels in all government schools. We are yet to be furnished with detailed information on how many leaners have since benefited from this budgetary allocation.

    It is the Coalition’s considered view that the Ministry of General Education should sustain the recruitment of 5,000 as per plan and allocations. To this end we are concerned that in 2017 that ministry has only recruited 2,000 teachers. Zambia needs to close the teacher pupil ratio if we are to improve on performance, service delivery and learning outcomes.

    In its submission, the Coalition has proposed the sustenance allocation of K4, 000,000 particularly for community schools. The state of most infrastructure in community schools remains in a deplorable state, while the pupil / teacher ratios are still high and teachers are volunteers without any take-home-pay at the end of the month.

    There is also need to scale up support towards Inclusive Education in Zambia as most learners do not have learning and teaching materials. Inclusive Education for learners with special education needs requires specific and clear budget lines to support infrastructure development and procurement of Teaching Learning materials such as braille text books.

    ZANEC further urges the government to provide adequate budgetary location to the Youth and Adult Literacy Sub Sector which currently has huge imbalance in the distribution of literacy centres, with majority of them being in urban areas, while only a few centres have been opened in rural areas. It is for this reason that ZANEC would like to see an infrastructure allocation for this purpose.

    In its submission to the Ministry of Finance for 2018 National Budget, ZANEC stated that the Education and Skills Sector faced a challenge of delivering quality practical skills and hence hopes that the sub sector will be explicitly provided for in the 2018 budget. The Coalition specifically calls for increased allocation to the provision of specialized equipment for TEVET institutions which is currently dilapidated. This will provide for a human resource base that will be relevant to the market and a necessary prerequisite for National Development. The Skills sectors also focuses on Research and Development which cannot be possible with the current obsolete equipment in trade schools.

    ZANEC further expects that the allocation for loans and scholarships for vulnerable but viable students to  tertiary education will not only be limited to Copperbelt University and University of Zambia.

    As a Coalition that is mandated to provide checks and balances to the Government, ZANEC is further calling on the Ministry of Finance to ensure that in the 2018 budget financial year ALL allocations to the sector MUST be released on TIME and FULLY for guaranteed timely implementation and delivery of materials and services. ZANEC has observed that over the years spending agencies survive on supplementary budgets even when the allocated budgets have not been released fully.

    In the ZANEC analysis of the Auditor General’s Report for the financial year ending 31st December, 2015; the Coalition identified irregularities such as money not going to intended beneficiaries, unreceived School Grants, failure to deliver and distribute Teaching and Learning Materials, failure to correct contract sums, bloated payroll coupled with sheer wasteful expenditure. All these clearly highlight that the Ministry of General Education and the Ministry of Higher Educations’ loopholes in managing expenditure, which takes away the little allocated to the much needed resources from actual quality service delivery.

    The Coalition therefore calls on the Government to ensure that the resources provided to the Education and Skills Sector in 2018 are spent in a prudent and efficient manner that will allow for tangible changes in the Education and Skills sector for Zambia to attain its vision 2030 of becoming a “Prosperous Middle Income Country” as well as the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

     

    Grace M. Sinkamba

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Issued on 27th September, 2017

     

  • Statement on Government Decision to Split UNZA into University Colleges

    Statement on Government Decision to Split UNZA into University Colleges

    The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC), a composition of 68 education and skills sector oriented civil society organizations has welcomed the decision by government to split up the University of Zambia in several specialized University Colleges for the purpose of improving efficiency. ZANEC supports progressive ideas and will monitor that this particular decision when implemented improves the quality of service delivery at the University of Zambia.

    ZANEC has always stood for promoting efficiency, quality and ensuring accountability in public institutions. It is clear UNZA has been lacking efficiency lately judging by the huge debt and unsatisfactory quality of education provided. This is against a background of ZANEC’s firm support of the Higher Education Act of 2013, whose objectives includes improving efficiency in the operations in Institutions of Higher Learning.

    It’s a clear that UNZA has been recording a drop in standards both in academics and administration because of the growth in size. The university has introduced a number of new programs and schools without getting the equivalent adjustments administratively.

    ZANEC is eager to see the details of the proposed splitting of UNZA into University Colleges. More importantly, we want to see this pronouncement translated into costs and timelines. We have been in contacted the Ministry of Higher Education to know the detailed modalities that this decision will take. We have been assured that the Ministry will get back to us once the Permanent Secretary receives official communication from Cabinet once this comprehensive feedback is received from the Ministry, we shall as a stakeholder take time to analyze and give our position.

    We believe, with commitment from the government as the major stakeholder in UNZA, we can still improve its operations. We hope that the measure will bring back the lost prestige and quality in academic production UNZA was once renowned for and hence a source of pride to all patriotic Zambians.

    This is a major decision that Cabinet has made and we are pleased that ‘improving efficiency’ has been given as justification for the idea.

    We therefore urge all stakeholder in the education and skills sector and those outside to take keen interest in such key policy announcements if duty bearers are to be kept accountable for each and every decision they make. Such decisions need to be monitored to the letter and spirit of their intended purpose.

    On behalf of the ZANEC members, we once more appreciate Cabinet decision and await the detailed breakdown of the implementation road map through the Ministry of Higher Education.

     

    ZAMBIA NATIONAL EDUCATION COALITION

    Grace B Manyonga

    Executive Director

    Issued on 17th August 2017