Zambia set to guarantee free education for all children through landmark legislation
Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima said the ministry has proposed amendments to the existing education law to secure free education from early childhood to secondary level.
Zambia is strengthening its commitment to free education by moving to enact legislation that will guarantee all children access to tuition-free schooling, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
Minister of Education Douglas Syakalima said the ministry has proposed amendments to the existing education law to secure free education from early childhood to secondary level.
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"We have seen the massive benefits brought by free education, and we want to ensure this policy is anchored in law," he said during a meeting with officials from the Educational Association for Quality Assurance in Zambia (EAQAZ) and representatives of higher education institutions.
He noted that the sharp rise in school enrolment since the introduction of free education in 2022 reflects the strong demand previously held back by school fees. While reaffirming the government’s commitment to free learning, Syakalima stressed the need to maintain high standards of education.
EAQAZ President Chilao Mutesa said the organisation’s mission is to promote excellence, encourage collaboration and build capacity in quality assurance across the education sector. He welcomed the government’s plan to legislate free education, saying it would help make the policy permanent.
President Hakainde Hichilema recently said that more than 2.3 million children had returned to school by October following the roll-out of the free education policy.
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