General Picture
In Zambia primary education starts when children are around seven years old and lasts through Grades 1 to 7. Primary education is free and the Zambian Government consider this to be an adequate level of education for most kids. Grades 8 and 9 are known as Junior Secondary and ends with the child sitting their Junior Secondary Education Exam, usually referred to as the Grade 9 exams. Both the Grade 7 and the Grade 9 exams are important as they will determine which schools the child may attend for secondary education. A child that performs well in the Grade 7 exams may be offered a place at a good Boarding Secondary School but unless the family is able to afford the fees and boarding costs, they end up staying for grades 8 and 9 at their local Rural Basic Schools. Grade 9 exams are far more important as the better the exam results the better the School that will offer the learner a place in a Grade 10 class. Secondary education ends when with a final exam at Grade 12. The School year runs from January to December and the school day usually starts at 07:00 but finishes by lunchtime.
The Reality
For many years the Zambia Government has had little money to put towards its Education Program and, whilst the District Education Boards do their best, they struggle with a budget that is inadequate to meet the needs of the growing population. Schools in rural areas suffer from shortage of classrooms with their existing ones usually in need of significant refurbishments. Often teaching is done in shifts with some classes coming in the morning and others in the afternoon but in spite of this many classes still remain overcrowded.
Educational resources such as text books and teaching aids are usually in short supply and often out of date. It is often not unusual for there to be just one text book for the whole class or subject. When there is no school close to a community some villages have been able to establish their own Community Schools. These usually start with just one class being taught in a thatched shelter by an unqualified volunteer. As fees are due from Grade 8 on-wards many learners do not continue with their formal education after Grade 7 as often many families do not afford the basics needs such as uniforms, exercise books and pencils. The situation is even worse for orphans as the relatives who care for them may already be struggling to provide for their own children and hence lack proper attention. The ages of learners in any given grade-class vary enormously as some learners start late or have to miss the whole year or two due to difficult home circumstances. Either reason results in classes with learners of widely differing ages. In spite of often having to walk long distances and a never-ending round of chores before and after school learners are desperate to learn.
With your help and support there is hope to change all that and give each child the opportunity to be significant individuals as they grow up into responsible citizens. Help us put smiles on the under-privileged learners from the under-served communities of Zambia as we promote project based education. Each Child deserves better education.
