‘Rufunsa school expansion on schedule’

THE expansion of Lukwipa Secondary School with funding from the World Bank in Mankanda ward in Rufunsa has reached an advanced stage and construction may be completed in record time, Rufunsa town council chairperson Mr Bartholomew Kalambalala has said.

Mr Kalambalala said in an interview after inspecting the school yesterday that phase one of the project which started in September this year was on course.

"The government disbursed the funds for the construction of 1x2 and 1x3 classroom blocks, a 1x2 science laboratory block, a home economics block and water and sanitation facilities. The project commenced immediately and all structures are now at roof-level.

"The project is going on as scheduled and will be completed in record time.

This secondary school is one of the 14 secondary schools on the project in Lusaka Province. This development has cheered the residents as the project will improve access to education in the area," he said.

He said that the district education board secretary's office received more than K250, 000 in September this year for the first phase of the project.

“The Government is committed to ensuring increased access to quality education for the rural communities. We are delighted that Government has considered our district to be among the first to benefit from this national programme," he said.

Mr. Kalambalala claimed that the area had lagged behind in education infrastructure but that the situation was steadily changing for the better.

"The children in the area have had to seek secondary school places in nearby districts such as Luangwa and Chongwe. This has been costly for the families in the rural community. This project will greatly improve the quality of life for the rural population. Government must be commended for walking the talk of increasing access to education, without leaving anyone behind.

I would like to also commend the contractor for being committed to the project. This is just the third month of the project and we can be sure that it will be completed as scheduled,” he said.

“We are hopeful that once more funds were released for the next phase, the project will be nearing completion. I cannot wait to see the completion and handover of the project to the school and community," he added.