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The National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has expressed concern over government’s failure to disburse free education grants to all public schools ahead of the new term.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, NAQEZ Executive Director, Dr. Aaron Chansa, said the delay places headteachers in a difficult position as schools prepare to reopen for term one of 2025 on January 13, under the old curriculum.
“Hours before schools open for the 2025 academic year, the government has not yet disbursed free education grants to all public schools in the country. This is deeply concerning,” Chansa said.
He warned that the funding delay compromised the readiness of schools for effective teaching and learning, particularly as the first year of the new curriculum implementation approached.
Chansa noted that since January 2022, the government had maintained a strong record of timely grant disbursements, making the current lapse unexpected and worrying.
“We wonder what has caused the government to fail to fund schools before the new term begins. NAQEZ urges the government to provide clarity on the reasons behind this delay,” he said.
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He called on the Ministry of Finance to urgently mobilise funds to ensure a smooth start to the school term, emphasising the importance of proactive communication to address challenges and uphold transparency.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chansa outlined that public schools offering grades from Day Care to Grade 12 will reopen on January 13, 2025, under the old curriculum. However, grades under Early Childhood Education and Form 1 will reopen on February 10, 2025, aligning with the new curriculum.
NAQEZ appealed to the government to ensure the timely disbursement of funds in the future to avoid disruptions and safeguard the quality of education in Zambia.
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