Minister of Education Hon. Douglas Syakalima has called on the international community to prioritise the plight of children affected by conflict, particularly those who attend school under constant threat of violence.
He painted a picture of a child in class, worried that a bomb might drop at any moment, and questioned how anyone could learn in such a scary situation. Hon. Syakalima emphasized that the international community needs to work harder to help these children who live in fear every da
He also shared how Zambia has made progress by providing free education, which has allowed over two million kids to go to school instead of being on the streets. He mentioned that Zambia is building more schools to keep up with the growing number of students.
Furthermore, he highlighted the country’s efforts to make schools safer, like banning corporal punishment and creating health rooms for students to report violence.He assured that any teacher who harasses a girl will be removed from their position, and girls are encouraged to speak up about any abuse, even from teachers. The Zambian curriculum now includes lessons on ethics and values to promote respect and non-violence among students. UK Minister for Africa Lord Raymond Collins also stressed the importance of safe learning environments, pointing out that many children face violence and that millions of girls are attacked on their way to school every year.
