NAQEZ challenges govt

THE Secretary to the Treasury has been challenged to disclose how much was released for school operations in the second quarter.

The National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) executive director Aaron Chansa, said the nation recalls that in the first quarter, the Ministry of Finance announced the release of only K324 million out of K2.1 billion.

He said it will therefore be important for the ministry to update the citizens on how much has been sent to schools for term two.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chansa says they are dismayed with the continued shortage of desks in schools.

He says with the overwhelming enrollments of learners due to the introduction of free education in public schools, it was expected that the government would quickly respond to the critical shortage of desks.

He says it is sad that this situation has remained unchecked forcing a lot of learners to sit on the floor.

Mr. Chansa says this is giving the education sector a very bad image.

“It is now estimated that the Ministry of Education will need more than 1.5 million desks to cure this academic disease.

“We need Governmental action now and not later. While the nation commends the new dawn administration for introducing free primary and secondary education, it has come to our attention that some schools, especially in North-Western, have never received operational grants this year.

“This is an assault on efforts for quality education. Equally, most primary schools in urban areas have been receiving inadequate funding.

“It is not enough for an urban primary school to receive less than K20, 000 per term. If this continues, most Head teachers will constantly be under severe stress and panic modes,” Mr. Chansa said.