Zambia has launched the “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign, supported by Education International Africa, to tackle challenges in the national education system. Emphasizing increased funding, the initiative calls for 20% of the national budget to be allocated to education. Stakeholders underscore the importance of quality education as a public good, with significant collaboration among unions and civil organizations to advocate for necessary changes.
Zambia has initiated the “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign in Lusaka, aimed at enhancing the public education system. This initiative, supported by Education International Africa (EIA), strives to ensure every child receives quality education. As part of a broader movement involving 24 African countries, the campaign seeks to attract greater investment into education sectors facing significant challenges.
Dr. Dennis Sinyolo, EIA Director, praised the Zambian government’s accomplishments, including the introduction of free education from early childhood to grade 12 and employing over 40,000 teachers in recent years. However, he highlighted ongoing issues like a lack of qualified teachers and a budget allocation of only 14.5% for education, which is below the desired benchmark of 20%.
Dr. Sinyolo urged the government to raise education funding to at least 20% of the national budget or 6% of GDP, which would enhance teacher recruitment, school infrastructure, and educational resources. He also called for the international community, especially the G20, to facilitate debt relief for Zambia to improve funding for essential public services.
Hon. Douglas Syakalima, Minister of Education, reinforced the campaign’s significance in promoting quality public education, reiterating the government’s determination to provide every child with access to high-quality educational resources. Mr. Harry Kamboni, a member of Parliament, emphasized collective advocacy for increased educational funding to meet the growing needs of the system.
Three Education International member organizations—BETUZ, SESTUZ, and ZNUT—collaborated to advocate for greater investment in education to represent unified educator interests. Their joint effort stresses the critical need for robust investment to ensure quality and equity in educational resources across Zambia.
The launch featured stakeholders from the Zambian Congress of Trade Unions, Action Aid, and various civil organizations reiterating that education serves as a public good and a crucial equalizer of opportunities. The overarching goal of this initiative is to improve access to quality education for every child in Zambia, ultimately shaping a brighter future for the nation.
Zambia’s “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign is part of a continent-wide movement involving 24 African nations focused on increasing educational investment. The campaign responds to pressing issues in public education, including inadequate funding and teacher shortages. Sustainable Development Goal 4 emphasizes the importance of quality education for all, making this initiative timely and necessary.
The launch of the “Go Public! Fund Education” campaign in Zambia is a crucial step toward addressing significant challenges in the education sector. With calls for increased funding and collaboration among various stakeholders, this initiative aims to ensure every child receives a quality education. By focusing on adequate budget allocation and international support, Zambia seeks to strengthen its public education system for future generations.
Original Source: www.ei-ie.org
