Finance Minister Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu has said government will prioritise the completion of infrastructure development projects and the provision of learning materials in the education sector.
Delivering the 2020 budget to the National Assembly on Friday September 27 2019, Dr. Ng’andu said 68 out of 115 schools under the Zambia Education Project have been completed this year.
“…to enhance skills of teachers in science, mathematics and technology subjects, government has completed the construction of the National Science Centre that will provide in-service training to local and foreign teachers.”
He said that to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio and enhance the quality of education at early childhood, primary and secondary school levels, government last year recruited and deployed  2,009 teachers out of which 1,263 were female.
Dr. Ng’andu added that government will improve financing to the education sector by recovering loans under the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board.
The Finance Minister noted that the Home Grown School Feeding Programme that targets vulnerable children will continue to be implemented in order to increase learner attendance and retention.
He further stated that to enhance equity, 35 percent of schools at early childhood, primary, and secondary level will cater for learners with special education needs.
“Currently, one million learners countrywide are benefiting from the programme,” he said.
Dr. Ng’andu said that at university level, 2020 will focus on the completion of on-going projects and the construction of student hostels at the University of Zambia, Copperbelt University and Mulungushi University.