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Education in Zambia

In Zambia, students do not pay school fees during grades 1 through 7. However, they are required to come to class wearing a uniform and equipped with a notebook and pen for each class. If a student arrives at school without the proper materials, s/he is sent home and asked only to return when prepared. Unfortunately, the families of many young children are unable to afford even 30 cents to buy a notebook and pen, much less a school uniform. Consequently, it is the poorest of the poor who are being denied an education.

school uniform

Upon completion of grade 7, all students must take an exam to test their understanding of the material. This test will determine if a student is allowed to continue to grade 8. This testing is done at the end of every remaining school year through grade 12. Many rural schools only provide education for grades 1-7, after which point students must walk distances of up to 5 miles to attend a school like Mushota Basic School, which goes up through grade 9.

Students are required to start paying school fees in grade 8. School fees at government schools are determined by a board of community members and teachers elected by the PTA, who consider the maximum amount a family in the area might be able to afford. For this reason, if the school is located in a town where most parents get regular paychecks, school fees can be up to ten times what school fees are in rural villages. Each school is responsible for using the school fees to purchase equipment for the school, such as textbooks and desks. One of the unfortunate consequences of this system is that schools in towns end up with ten times more money than rural schools, so they are able to afford books and desks for every child, upkeep on classrooms, and even computers. Meanwhile, rural schools are ramshackle and desperately short of the most basic materials.

Many teachers avoid posts at rural schools, preferring to stay in towns with such amenities as electricity and running water. This has led to a constant dearth of staff at rural schools. Due to the teacher and classroom shortage, some classes include multiple grades. Each class may only attend one third of the school day, as classes must rotate throughout the day to accommodate all students. The obvious result is that the education of children in rural areas is suffering.

If a student is lucky enough to have relatives or family friends who live in a town and are willing and able to accommodate her, she may go to a day school for grades 10-12. Prices vary, though on average a student in Kawambwa District must pay $40-$75 per year in school fees. If the student does not have connections for lodging, she has no option but to attend a boarding school, which will cost a steep $160-$240 per year. A boarding school will provide her with the highest caliber of education.

Basic School (Day), Grades 1-7 No School Fees
Basic School (Day), Grades 8-9 $24 per year
High School (Day), Grades 10-12 $40-$75 per year
Boarding School, Grades 8-12 $160-$240 per year

The above chart details school fees for government schools in the District of Kawambwa.

The quality of education at boarding schools is evident in the command of English that a boarding school-educated child achieves. Mastering English is imperative for access to jobs in the formal sector. Yet, it is extremely rare that a family can afford the cost of a boarding school. In Mushota, most families are farmers and may earn $100-$200 per year, which they receive only during harvest time. Paying school fees throughout the year, even for Basic Day School, is impossible for these families. Many children have no choice but to drop out of school after grade 7.

It is our hope that the GLOW club members will soon be able to generate enough income to support themselves at boarding schools for grades 10-12. Receiving a quality education during high school will open the doors of opportunity for these young women, giving them a sense of independence, hope, and the ability to escape poverty.

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