Permanent Secretary in charge of Educational Services, Mr Joel Kamoko has reaffirmed the government’s commitment in the work of UNESCO to transform lives and drive sustainable development.
Mr Kamoko made the remarks when he delivered the National Policy Statement to the 42nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO taking place at the organization’s headquarters in Paris, France.
He commended the Director General of UNESCO Ms Audrey Azoulay on her positive global efforts in building a vibrant UNESCO and highlighted significant milestones that Zambia has achieved in the fields of education, science, culture, communication and information.
Mr Kamoko said Zambia is making curriculum reforms in light of the Transforming Education Summit call for action to accelerate national and global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 4 of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The Permanent Secretary called for support and collaborative linkages in digital transformation in education as the country finalizes the ICT policy which is pivotal in establishing resilient delivery systems for quality teaching and learning in the face of global challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic.
He expressed gratitude to UNESCO for its help in actualizing the UNESCO Chair for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Teacher Education for Sustainable Development (MaSTESD) that was established at the Copperbelt University in 2022.
Mr Kamoko cited a Science, Technology, Innovation Youth Fund aimed at assisting Zambian youths to develop scientific and technological innovations, with a focus on innovations that are relevant to the creation of wealth and employment as the government’s commitment in fulfilling UNESCO’s mandate.
Mr Kamoko said the UNESCO Qualifications Passport has deepened the country’s continued work with UNESCO and has so far facilitated the issuance of forty-four qualifications to deserving refugees with thirty admissions to local universities and one to Brescar University in Italy in an effort to create opportunities for refugees and displaced persons and appealed for more scholarships and finances to higher education to support the deserving vulnerable refugees.
He explained that the country has commenced the development of National Occupational Standards in the key priority sectors and the review of the national qualifications framework to ensure international comparability and recognition of Zambian Qualifications.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary requested for international assistance in positioning the Kafue Flats Biosphere Reserve as a regional hub in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal of building Sustainable Cities and Communities.
He pointed out that Zambia has undertaken a National Innovation System to foster low-carbon and climate-resilient economic development with technical assistance from the Climate Technology Centre and Network.
Mr Kamoko acknowledged UNESCO’s support of anti-doping in sport programme for the protection of sport values and integrity as well as the review of the National Youth Policy.
He said UNESCO’s support has been instrumental in building capacity in safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and called for more assistance to actualise the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions which seeks to to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions among others.
Mr Kamoko further added that Zambia is reviewing policies relating to the Arts, Film, Museum, and Heritage to ensure that creative industries are mainstreamed into socio economic sustainable development to harness the collective benefits for society.
This is contained in a statement issued by Naomi Mweemba First Secretary Press Zambian Embassy, Paris.
