ZAMBIA: Catholic Church and Government in Zambia Strengthen Partnership in Education
Sandra Kunda
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has commended the Zambia government for its progressive policies in education.
Speaking at a conference attended by Catholic school leaders at Kapingila Guest House in Lusaka, Rt. Rev. Bishop Patrick Chisanga of Mansa Diocese, who is also Bishop Director for Catholic Education and Culture, praised the government for its efforts in recruiting teachers, providing free education, improving school infrastructure, and introducing the competency-based curriculum.
“The Catholic Church has played a key role in education for over 130 years, and due to public demand, we continue to expand our schools. We are committed to providing quality and holistic education rooted in strong values, which is why many Zambians prefer Catholic schools for their children.” He articulated.
However, Bishop Chisanga requested continued collaboration in teacher recruitment and called for government support in resolving issues such as property rates imposed on mission schools and proposed the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide the collaboration.
He thanked the government for understanding the Catholic way of providing education by making religious education a compulsory subject in all Catholic schools.
Bishop Chisanga emphasized that Catholic schools educate nearly 450,000 learners in Zambia and contribute significantly to the nation’s education sector.
Bishop Chisanga has since reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to working with the government to achieve inclusive and quality education for all while urging all catholic school proprietors not to lose themselves in money making but to make education affordable even in the most expensive schools having the poor in mind.
And speaking at the same event, Education Minister Hon. Douglas Syakalima praised Catholic schools for their vital role in Zambia’s education sector.
Hon. Syakalima said Catholic schools contribute to national development through quality education and value-based learning.
He acknowledged their efforts in shaping responsible citizens inculcated with good morals and ethics, aligning with the government’s goals of fostering integrity and good citizenship.
Hon. Syakalima added that it is only when good morals are inculcated in children at an early age that the country will have a morally upright future generation, which it seems to have lost presently.
The minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and faith-based institutions to strengthen the education sector while acknowledging the challenges posed by the free education policy, which has increased student enrolment and placed pressure on school infrastructure and resources.
Meanwhile, ZCCB Secretary General Fr. Francis Mukosa emphasised the importance of preserving the identity of Catholic Schools in order to Maintain academic excellence.
The two-day conference, which began on 25th to 27th February 2025, addressed key issues such as Catholic school management, teacher recruitment, the impact of the 2023 education curriculum, and school registration procedures.
