Zambia moves to introduce law to guarantee free education
Zambia’s education ministry plans legal changes to guarantee free schooling from early childhood to secondary level, aiming to make the 2022 policy permanent while maintaining quality standards.
Zambia is stepping up its resolve to secure free education through the enactment of a law that will guarantee free education for children, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima said the ministry has proposed amendments to the current education law to guarantee free education for children from early childhood through secondary school.
"We have seen the massive benefits brought by free education, and we want to ensure this policy is anchored in law," he said when meeting with officials from the Educational Association for Quality Assurance in Zambia (EAQAZ) and higher education institutions.
He said the surge in school enrollments since the introduction of a free education policy in 2022 demonstrates the strong demand for education, previously hindered by school fees.
While acknowledging that free education for learners, Syakalima emphasised the importance of upholding the quality of education.
EAQAZ President Chilao Mutesa said the organisation's mission is to promote excellence, foster collaboration, and strengthen capacity in quality assurance across Zambia's education sector.
He welcomed the government's decision to enact a law on free education, saying it will ensure that the policy becomes permanent.
President Hakainde Hichilema said recently that the introduction of the free education policy has led to over 2.3 million children returning to school as of October.
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