Surge in Pupil Enrollment as Zambia’s Free Schools Gain Traction

Zambia’s free education programme has led to a significant increase in student enrollment, but the quality of education remains low due to a lack of infrastructure.

Congested classrooms, a shortage of teachers, and a lack of desks or textbooks are preventing pupils from reaching key educational targets set by the government.

Despite 87.9% of children enrolled in primary school, net enrollment in secondary school is only 42.9%, with a 67.5% transition rate from primary to secondary stages.

The increase in enrollment reflects a trend across sub-Saharan Africa, with more children in school than ever before.

The African Union launched its “Year of Education 2024” in February, calling on governments to accelerate progress towards achieving quality education for all. Zambia’s government plans to build over 170 new schools and recruit 55,000 new teachers by 2026.