12/01/2016
FREE EDUCATION POLICY
What do you think could be the reason?
Education is not only a human right, but it is also an essential tool for individuals to break the poverty cycle and to building the human capital of nations. Zambia is one of the poorest countries in the world and is home to 6 million children under the age of 18 of which 4 million children are of the primary school age (7-14). Though Zambia made commendable progress in increasing access and gender parity, more than a quarter million children are out of school and 47% of those enrolled in school do not complete the primary cycle.
The Free Basic Education Policy (Grades 1-7) was announced in February 2002 by the President of the Republic of Zambia, late Dr. Levy P. Mwanawasa. This was followed up by a circular dated 15th March, 2002 from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education to all schools and education offices explaining what Free Basic Education entailed. This was in an effort to improve access and equity. The annual school census for the period from 2001 to 2002, including the declaration of Free Middle Basic Education, indicated a significant growth of pupil enrollment. This was a sharp contrast to previous trends when enrollments were increasing at lower than 2% every year, Despite the increased access and enrolment to education at both lower and middle basic levels, there were still a lot of imbalances.
Since the introduction of the free basic education policy in 2002, enrolment in basic education levels has steadily increased as stated earlier However, children from poor households, rural children and girls are the last to enroll in school and the first to drop out, and are significantly underrepresented in the upper grades of basic education as well as the secondary level
your thought