The Minister of Education Highlights Efforts to Strengthen Teacher Training To Improve Foundational Learning in Zambia

Lusaka, 15 November 2024 – The second edition of the Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX) 2024 took place in Kigali, Rwanda this week, from November 11 – 13, hosted by the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Education. The conference brought together over 500 education leaders from across the continent to confer on the theme “Moving together from commitments to impact at scale.”

On the sidelines of the event, Zambia’s Education Minister, Hon. Douglas Syakalima, MP, met with the UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Ms. Etleva Kadilli, and shared that the Ministry of Education has increased efforts to strengthen teacher training to equip them with the necessary skills to improve foundational learning and help those learners who are lagging behind.

“Various interventions have been implemented to enhance the quality of education at the early childhood and primary education levels. The “Catch Up Programme” is one of them. Its teacher training courses are designed to enable teachers to work effectively with slow learners,” the Minister said.

Minister Syakalima also noted several achievements in Zambia’s education sector, including the School Feeding Programme, which currently operates in 84 districts. This programme has significantly reduced absenteeism and increased student retention, and there are plans to expand it to all 116 districts.

Additionally, the Ministry has revitalized production units, enabling schools to cultivate their own crops and raise livestock, promoting self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the Minister informed UNICEF about the construction of health rooms, which will provide immediate healthcare to sick children, with teachers receiving basic medical training.

UNICEF praised the Zambian Government for its flagship Education for All Policy which has facilitated the enrolment of over 2.3 million children by eliminating Parent Teacher Associations (PTA), examination, and registration fees.

“UNICEF highly commends the Zambian Government’s re-entry policy, which has enabled many children, especially girls, to return to school,” said Ms. Kadilli. “We call on the Government to continue investing in education, including through an increase in budgetary allocations to early childhood and primary education to strengthen foundational learning.”

Ms. Kadilli assured Minister Syakalima that UNICEF will continue to support Zambia in providing access to quality education for all children, particularly the most vulnerable. She was accompanied by UNICEF Regional Education Advisor, Wongani Grace Taulo, and UNICEF Zambia Education Chief, Katharina Wuppinger.

The FLEX is the largest platform for country-to-country exchange around education on the continent, which brings together policy makers, thought leaders, development partners, implementers, and other education actors from across sub-Saharan Africa to catalyze the scaling of successful interventions that enhance foundational learning.

Participants engaged in a series of technical sessions, roundtable discussions, and school visits, sharing knowledge and best practices to enhance foundational learning. Key stakeholders, including UNICEF, the World Bank, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), African Union, USAID and Hempel Foundation highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts and strategic partnerships in achieving educational goals. The conference emphasized the need for strong data, political will, and innovative approaches to tackle learning poverty and unlock economic opportunities across Africa.