World Vision Zambia has called for continuous investment in education, if the nation is going to see improved learning outcomes and equitable access to high-quality, inclusive education across the three age groups from infancy to adolescence.
As Zambia joins the rest of the world to celebrate the International Day of Education, commemorated every year on 24th January, World Vision Zambia recognises the human right to education, particularly for the most vulnerable.
World Vision has therefore commended government’s free education policy because it believes all children have a right to compulsory, free, inclusive and high-quality primary education in the communities where they live.
World Vision Zambia, Technical Programme Manager for the Reading and Development (ZREAD) programme, Dr Francis Sampa says the organisation remains steadfast in its contribution to the education sector and will continue to work with the government, communities, and traditional leaders.
“The goal of the Technical Programme is to target 140,000 Boys and Girls to receive quality literacy teaching and learning environments in the 32 areas of World Vision’s operations in the 72 districts of the country. The main focus of the education technical programme is to improve learners’ performance level in literacy and numeracy in early grades from Early Childhood Education (ECE) to grade 4 aligned to the Primary Literacy Programme (PLP). This aligns with addressing the Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education,” he said.
Dr Sampa further reiterated the call by the UN agency, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), that Education must be prioritized to accelerate progress towards all the SDGs against the backdrop of a global recession, growing inequalities and the climate crisis.
“There is a need for strong political and social mobilization around education from all stakeholders and to chart the way to translate commitments and global initiatives into action.”
World Vision’s approach to education is holistic and broader than simply what happens in a classroom because education includes both formal and non-formal systems. The organisation believes education incorporates the building of community learning and awareness to help parents and other adults take charge of their future development.
World Vision supports inclusive education that addresses the attitudinal, institutional and environmental barriers to education within society and schools.
Further, World Vision collaborates with other stakeholders, such as UNICEF, VVoB, FAWEZA, Let’s Read Zambia, Save the Children, and ZOCS, among others, to ensure quality education is delivered to children at all levels.
Between 2021 and 2022, World Vision reached 93,415 children with different literacy activities surpassing the set target of 79,137 children.
