State plans 37 schools, more teachers

By ALEX NJOVU

 

GOVERNMENT plans to build 37 day high schools and recruit over 7,000 teachers this year, Ministry of Education permanent secretary Andrew Phiri has said.
Mr Phiri said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that upgrading and construction of school infrastructure are progressing well.
He urged Zambians to continue supporting Government’s efforts to improve education standards in the country.
“Very soon, we will embark on the construction of 37 day high schools countrywide. The construction of school infrastructure is vital to the development of the education sector,” he said.
Mr Phiri said Government is committed to improving the standards of education through the construction of schools.
He also said Government will involve various stakeholders to develop the education sector.
“As a ministry, and as a government under the able leadership of President Banda, we are focused on the development of the country. We are taking school infrastructure everywhere where our people live because we understand that an educated society plays an important role in the development of the country,” he said.
Mr Phiri said Government will this year recruit over 7,000 teachers to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio.
“Of the 7, 000 teachers who will be recruited in April this year, 5,000 are net additional while 2,000 are replacements. We are committed to ensuring that every teacher is employed, and we want to assure those who may not be employed this time around that they must not lose hope because they will be employed soon,” Mr Phiri said.
He said President Banda’s administration is concerned about the welfare of its people.
Mr Phiri said Government is aware that teachers play an important role to the development of the nation.
“We have set aside funds in this year’s budget for the recruitment of teachers because Government wants every teacher who went to a training school to be employed. This is why we are building more schools countrywide,” he said.