ZANEC

Category: Press Statement

  • ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON UPCOMING EXAMINATIONS FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ZAMBIA

    ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON UPCOMING EXAMINATIONS FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ZAMBIA

    The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has noted that learners (pupils) will be writing examinations for grade twelve, nine (9) and seven (7) starting on 27th of September, 2018 for grade 12. It is important that the people responsible for distributing examination papers take responsibility and not leak the papers.

    It is wrong to use leakages in exams. We appeal to the parents who are in the habit of buying leakages for their children to stop as they are inculcating bad morals in their children of cheating, stealing and not having integrity. Exam malpractice is a negative orientation for future leaders, who may end up being corrupt in their positions of authority. Exam leakages encourage the young to engage in illicit actions, including engaging in prostitution in order to access the leakages. As such, there is a lot to worry about regarding the morality of these future adults.

    We appeal to the law enforcement institutions to give stiff punishment to those involved in exam mal practices at all levels. Additionally, we call upon the Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) to revoke the Teaching Licenses from teachers who will be found involved in leaking the examination papers.

    As a Coalition, we are of the view that examination mal practices are supposed to be a concern of everyone who is progressive. This is because the mal practices bring about illiterate and incomplete learners who later work in our industries and do substandard works which affect the economic development of the country.

    We encourage the learners to prepare adequately for the exams by studying every day and reduce on spending time on social media and watching television which do not add value to their lives.  ZANEC also takes the opportunity to remind the parents, guardians, learners, teachers and relevant authorities that it is an offence and a crime in Zambia to be involved in examination malpractice. The vice undermines the credibility of the education system.

    It is important for the government and relevant stakeholders to give special consideration to exam setters, invigilators and supervisors. These should be well remunerated and in good time so that they do not think of taking bribes to add to their salaries.

    We also take the opportunity to wish all those writing a success in 2018 examinations.

     

    Ivy Mutwale (Miss)

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON WORLD LITERACY DAY

    ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON WORLD LITERACY DAY

    Zambia National Educational Coalition (ZANEC) joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Literacy Day which falls on 8th September 2018.

    As a Coalition, we are very proud to be associated with the commemoration of World Literacy Day. This is because the aim of World Literacy Day is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. Traditionally, literacy is the ability to read and write. This day is very important because it reminds us of the relevance of knowing how to read and write. Reading and writing are an essential aspect to individuals, communities and society at large that cannot be done without.

    The 2018 theme is “Literacy and Skills Development” this theme could not have come at a better time than this one. Indeed, literacy and skills development is important to anyone’s success in their day to day work, interaction and communication. ZANEC’s vision is to have a citizenry who can achieve self-fulfillment. There’s no better way to achieve this than to ensure access to basic literacy and income generating skills.
    Literacy is one of the most important skills when it comes to our personal growth, culture and development. It is even more important today because of how our economy and society are changing. Around the world, governments, businesses and people are becoming more and more connected by digital technologies and therefore reading and writing becomes crucial for one’s survival.

    The only way to get a job is by being able to read, write and use digital technologies. By addressing these issues now and learning throughout life, we will have stronger empowered individuals, communities and societies who effectively contribute to the national development agenda.

    Skills development is crucial for human labour force and has to be taken seriously by our government and all actors in the Education and Skills Sector. Qualified labour force is cardinal for national development at all levels of the economy in Zambia. It therefore, makes sad realisation that Zambia stands at the bottom of the chart in literacy levels according to the Southern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SAQMEQ) Report.

    There is need to invest more in the Education and Skills Sector in order to redeem ourselves as a country. In the same vein we need skilled personnel who are keen to be entrepreneurs and self-reliant. We need skilled people who can understand and adapt to changes in the increasing complexity of technology. We need people who can apply scientific knowledge to the improvement and provide solutions to environmental challenges for the use and conveniences of every person.

    For the country to attain meaningful development it is important that literacy and skills development are prioritized and financed adequately.

    It is sad to note that according to the Zambia Democratic Health Survey 2013 – 2014, only 68 percent of women and 83 percent of men both aged 15 to 49 are literate, while only 54 percent of rural women are literate. According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 2015 report in Zambia 63.9 percent are literate, 70. 5 percent males and 50 percent females are literate. In order to reduce the high illiteracy levels in the country everyone’s concerted effort is needed to promote quality education for all.
    It is through commemorating events such as this one that will ensure that no one is left behind as it is stipulated in the Seventh National Development Plan and Vision 2030. We are aware that education is key in national development and is the only equalizer. Therefore education from Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) to primary and secondary through to tertiary should be planned for and be well implemented to bring out meaningful quality education for every citizen. Education has many benefits and has positive impact in our life. A literate and skilled individual is an asset for any country in today’s world as human capital is considered the best national resource. It is also of high importance to ensure no one is left behind by continuously highlighting the importance of youth and adult literacy.

    Social accountability to initiatives are important in the promotion of literacy and skills development in our community and schools. ZANEC is aware that the provision of education and skills is a mammoth task that cannot be left to the Ministries of General Education (MOGE) and High Education (MOHE) alone. We will continue as ZANEC to provide support to both MOGE and MOHE. This will be done through checks and balances in our social accountability mechanisms. By enabling communities and learners to hold the duty bearers accountable by actively participating in the governance systems in schools and higher learning institutions. It is the Coalition’s vision to scale up social accountability at all levels of education through score cards, notice boards and social audits. ZANEC will also give equal attention to institutions of higher learning, through capacity enhancement of student union bodies and promotion of academic freedoms.

    ZANEC wishes everyone young and old a fruitful World Literacy Day commemoration.

    For/ZANEC
    Ivy Mutwale (Miss)
    ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  • SPEECH BY THE ZANEC BOARD CHAIRPERSON MR KABIKA KAKUNTA AT THE LAUNCH OF THE GLOBAL ACTION WEEK FOR EDUCATION HELD AT TAJ PAMODZI HOTEL, LUSAKA ON THE 3RD AUGUST 2018

    SPEECH BY THE ZANEC BOARD CHAIRPERSON MR KABIKA KAKUNTA AT THE LAUNCH OF THE GLOBAL ACTION WEEK FOR EDUCATION HELD AT TAJ PAMODZI HOTEL, LUSAKA ON THE 3RD AUGUST 2018

     

     

    Representatives from the two Ministries in charge of Education and Skills;

    Cooperating Partners;

    Representatives of Civil Society Organisations;

    Members of the Press

    Invited Guests

    Ladies and Gentlemen

    It’s my honour to stand before you and deliver this speech on behalf of Zambia National Education Coalition.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    The Global Action for Education is an annual event which raises awareness and advocates for the continued prioritisation of education. This is an opportunity to reflect and take stock of the challenges and achievements we have made in the Education and Skills Sector in the country.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    The theme for the GAWE 2018 is “Accountability in Education: Meeting our commitments”. This is a follow through of the 2017 theme whose focus was “Accountability for SDG 4 and Citizen Participation.”

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    In meeting our commitments to education, accountability can only be achieved by ensuring that education stakeholders are brought together through provided platforms. This can be achieved by working together with elected officials, Ministries responsible for education, Ministry of Finance, Parliament, parents, local communities and Civil Society. All these actors are collectively responsible for the effective and efficient delivery of education services.

    Coincidentally, ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to state that the just ended Joint Annual Review deliberated candidly on the need for strong multi-stakeholder accountability as a key ingredient to improving our learner outcomes.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Accountability can only be achieved if an enabling environment is provided for by the state. As such the right to seek and impart information by all stakeholders must be embraced. Once again, this was demonstrated during the JAR. Ladies and gentlemen the openness and receptiveness demonstrated by our government thus far shows that we are indeed on the right track. Now we need to move forward from lamentations to implementing what we agree upon, otherwise this valuable partnership we have all worked well to nurture will end up as a waste of time if we do not put our word into action.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    The Global Partnership for Education Replenishment Meeting that was held in Dakar Senegal this year was one of the many mechanisms in place to call on our government to be held accountable for education and be able to position themselves to make commitments on financing for education. Zambia was unfortunately not represented at the Replenishment meeting. After follow-up with the Ministry, the Coalition has been reassured that the government is in liaison with Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to ensure commitments are arrived at with regard to financing education in the country. The current presence of GPE representatives in the country and discussions conducted are further reassurance. As ZANEC, we continue to participate in these critical processes and exert our important watchdog role by providing checks and balances and indeed even solutions to the challenges facing the sector.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Several commitments are made by our governments as they sign to developmental agreements. In the Vison 2030 inclusive education is a target under this commitment, yet there is very little demonstrated investment in Learners with Special Education Needs with regard to procurement of Teaching and Learning Materials, while infrastructure continues to remain inappropriate for Learners with Special Education Needs, even 54 years after independence. We need to take decisive action if we are to achieve our 7th NDP vision of leaving no one behind.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    The African Union Agenda 2036 a continental development agenda is a call to “catalyze education and skills revolution and actively promote science, technology, research and innovation, to build knowledge, human capital, capabilities and skills for African innovations. As Civil Society it is important to constantly track the performance of these aspirations to advocate for them to appear in our strategic plans such as the Education Sector Strategic Plan to allow for their implementation and monitoring.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    As Civil Society, we have been given the opportunity to constantly engage and be heard by the ministries responsible for education and as such, we challenge ourselves to work together with government to ensure our multiple and diverse voices are not erased from the debate.

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    With these remarks it is now my rare honour and privilege to invite the Ministry of General Education to officially open this meeting.

    I Thank You and May God Bless Zambia!

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON THE 2018 DAY OF AN AFRICAN CHILD

    ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON THE 2018 DAY OF AN AFRICAN CHILD

    Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) joins the rest of the world in commemorating the Day of an African Child on 16th June, 2018. This day serves to commemorate the black students in Soweto, South Africa who were injured and died due to their brave action in defense of their rights to education. Therefore, the Day of an African Child celebrates the children of Africa and demands for serious reflection and commitment towards addressing the various challenges facing children especially with regard to access to quality education across the continent and the country as well.

    This year’s theme is “Leave No Child Behind for Africa’s Development.” This theme can only come to a reality if no child is left behind in terms of access to quality education. This is because education fosters development not only for an individual but also the country at large. Thus, the overarching principle of this year is inclusive development for children.  The theme is particularly important in the African context where children form the majority of Africa’s population. According to the Zambia Demographic Health Survey 2014 -2015 the Zambian population under the age of 15 years amounts to fifty percent (50%). It is therefore important to target children’s wellbeing in terms of development in the country as children are in the majority and are our future leaders.

    It is sad to note that according to the Africa Union Concept Note on the Day of the African Child, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than half of the world’s out-of-school children (34 million) while girls account for 54 per cent of the out-of-school population. Despite progress made in realizing children’s rights to non-discrimination and to improve gender equality, the gap in access to education based on gender persists. Children with disabilities are a significant portion of out-of-school children. Additionally, according to the 2016 Zambia Education Statistical Bulletin 752,701 children are out of school. It becomes important to ensure that children that are out of school are brought back to school if no child is to be left behind in terms of education. It is also important that learning and teaching materials as well as infrastructure are sufficient and inclusive so that differently abled children also have access to equitable quality education both in the urban and rural areas. Similarly, it is important to ensure that Policies like the Re-entry Policy are implemented so that no Child is left behind in the country

    Agenda 2063 under the African Union provides a frame work for social- economic development as a continent. As such this year’s theme is harnessing the continental goal to ensure we have an Africa whose development is people driven, relying on the potential offered by people, especially its women and youth and caring for children. This is in relation to the Sustainable Development Goal number four (4) whose target is to ensure that inclusive and equitable quality education is attained and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all.

    The coalition would further like to take this opportunity to disassociate itself & denounce early child marriages, teenage pregnancies, child labor and related vices that retard the development of a child to reach their full capacity and potentials in terms of their mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.  A child should have access to good nutrition, education, medical care and shelter. As it is also stated in the African Charter on the Rights and Wellbeing of a Child (ACRWC) Article 11: Every child has the right to an education, to develop his or her personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential. This education also includes the preservation and strengthening of positive African morals, traditional values and cultures. Governments should also take special measures in respect of female, gifted and disadvantaged children, to ensure equal access to education for all sections of the community.

    ZANEC urges government, parents, guardians, teachers, and all stakeholders to set up their efforts in bringing up children in conducive environments and ensuring that they access quality education in order to safe guard their future.

    We wish all the African children well as we commemorate their day today.

     

    For/ZANEC

    Ms. Ivy Mutwale

    Acting Executive Director

     

    Issued on 16th June, 2018

  • ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON THE NUMBER OF GIRLS THAT ARE GETTING PREGNANT

    ZANEC PRESS STATEMENT ON THE NUMBER OF GIRLS THAT ARE GETTING PREGNANT

    Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) is saddened by the increasing number of school going age girls that are getting pregnant in the country. According to the 2016 Education Statistical Bulletin it was reported that 11, 765 girls in primary schools and 3,457 in secondary schools became pregnant and dropped out of school, as such a total of 15,222 dropped out of school in 2016 alone.  The Coalition is aware of the recent media reports indicating that a large number of girls are dropping out of school due to ever increasing teenage pregnancies and child marriages. Information on the ground is that over 500 girls have fallen pregnant in Chipata, Eastern Province and dropped out of school just in one month.

    Early child pregnancies and child marriages have increased the number of out of school children. It has become increasingly important that drastic measures are put in place to bring an end to this scourge. Through our interaction with the different stakeholders we are of the view that the inadequate boarding facilities in our schools make girls susceptible to increased possibility of uninformed sexual activity, abuse and peer pressure especially for those who are left unsupervised. Some negative cultural beliefs and behaviours have also contributed to early teenage pregnancies and child marriages.

    There is urgent need to help save our children from the negative consequence of early marriages and pregnancies. Parents that are in the habit of marrying off children have to stop this vice and be punished severely according to the Education Act of 2011 in order to deter would be culprits from perpetrating the vice.  Parents will further need to ensure that their children are well supervised and guided to ensure appropriate social cultural norms and values are instilled in them.

    It is crucial that sensitization is increased especially in places were teenage pregnancies and early child marriages have escalated. It is also important that the girls who have dropped out of school because of pregnancies are taken back to school through the Re-entry Policy.

    ZANEC together with its member organisations have been involved in massive sensitization on the Re- entry Policy and working to bring back to school the teenage mothers, boys and girls that have been married off. For example the Forum for African Women Educationalist of Zambia, (FAWEZA) has managed to take 61 teenage mothers back to school in Kalomo District, Southern Province in the first quarter of 2018 alone.

    Furthermore, Divine Community School has brought back seven (7) teenage mothers to school and Harvest Pentecostal Church has managed to bring back 10 teenage mothers back to school in Lusaka Province.  Rural Children’s Hope (RCH) managed to take back to school 38 teenage mothers in 2011 and these learners have since completed their education in 2015 in Nyanje Village, Sinda, Eastern Province.

    PAF through the Girl Action Forum (GAF) has successfully managed to re- enroll 93 girls back to School in Mazabuka, Monze and Namayani in Southern Province. Chadiza, Chipata and Mambwe in Eastern Province. The Girls Action Forum (GAF) is one such programme that prepares girls to take up their civic and social responsibilities. The GAF is a mentorship programme that builds learning and social skills. It is a tool that responds to the challenges faced by girls in rural communities.  At the end of the project a 93% reduction in early marriages and pregnancies was recorded across the 80 targeted community schools. This result was directly related to the new mentorship intervention, which indicated that schools with high performing Girls Action Forums reported low cases of early pregnancy and marriages with even lower rates of dropouts among girls.

    Therefore, we want to encourage the parents, guardians, the church, CSOs and the different stakeholders in the education and skills sector to step up the fight to remove early child pregnancies and marriages in our society. Additionally, it is important that the Re-entry Policy is taken seriously and implemented by all well-meaning Zambians as it will bring to the reality of ‘not leaving any one behind’ as stipulated in Seventh National Development Plan and the Vision 2030.

    ZANEC would also like to take this opportunity to salute the traditional leaders that have been in the fore front punishing perpetrators of early marriages in their Chiefdoms. The Coalition urges all traditional leaders to emulate this.

    Lastly ZANEC reiterate its unwavering advocacy for the sustained implementation of the Re-entry Policy not as an encouragement to continued pregnancies, but to give a second chance to drop outs to complete their schooling circle and became self-sufficient and not perpetual dependents on parents, community and the nation at large.

    Mrs. Grace M. Sinkamba
    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Issued on 16th May, 2018

  • 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

  • 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