Following the introduction of free education and bursaries for secondary boarding schools, Mansa District has seen an unprecedented number of children reporting to schools, both day and boarding schools.
In compliance with the presidential directives, schools in the district do not send children away despite the large number of children seeking school places.
This has caused a strain in the education sector as the directive has resulted in shortage of infrastructure and furniture in Schools.
The Mansa Secondary school head teacher, Mrs. Chama Sharon says the school has seen many children enroll and come back to school and that most prefer to be in boarding school.
She adds that the result is a need for more dormitories as well as beds and mattresses.
“The mattresses we have are very old and they are not enough. In 2022, we were lucky to receive a donation of 50 mattresses after the census exercise but that is not enough, she said.
And one of the bursary recipients at Mansa Secondary School Martin Kaoma appreciated the bursaries which he says has accorded him an opportunity to be in boarding school. But he has also made a request for further consideration.
“On behalf of my friends, we are asking the Government to also consider buying us uniforms, shoes and groceries because our parents cannot afford to buy us these things” he said.
And Mansa District Mayor Cllr. Njikho Musuku noted the concerns raised and encouraged the school administrations to apply for more infrastructure and furniture for the schools under the Constituency Development Fund.
He informed them that the CDFCs in the district have been prioritizing the needs of the schools in the district in order to ensure that the President Hakainde Hichilema’s dream for equal access to education for all is realized.
“In 2022, the Bahati Constituency and Mansa central Constituency procured 1,722 desks which were delivered to 32 schools in the district. While, in 2023, the two constituencies are in the process of procuring 5,964 desks which will be distributed to schools as will be guided by the District Education Board Secretary’s office”, he said.
Mr. Musuku further added that so far, 20 community projects currently under way under both constituencies are in the education sector, with most being Classroom blocks and staff houses.
“There has been a shift in the paradigm as approach to undertaking developmental projects now demands that full facilities are being given to the communities. For example, the construction of schools such as Chisunka Combined, Kabondo, Bukotelo and Chakasansa Community Schools in Bahati and Kapompwa Community school in Mansa Central Constituencies include staff houses, ablution blocks with water borne toilets as well as water reticulation” he said.
