By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) has welcomed the appointment of Douglas Siakalima by President Hakainde Hichilema, as Education Minister
NAQEZ executive director Aaron Chansa says as an educationist Mr Siakalima knows the challenges which teachers, lecturers, students and learners have over the years been facing.
Mr Chansa said that they have confidence that Mr Siakalima will be equal to the task and change the course of the Education Sector.
“He comes to a sector which is dear to the President’s heart, but one ministry with monumental challenges such as demotivated teachers due to a multitude of unmet needs and wants.Unlike his immediate predecessors who frowned upon stakeholder engagements, our new Minister should embrace all stakeholders in moving the Ministry forward through a consultative process, which process is mentioned in the UPND Manifesto of 2021-2026 under the education component of the ruling party’s manifesto,” he said.
Mr Chansa said that even with two ministries under the PF Government, the budgetary allocation to the Education Sector continued to terribly suffer.
“This saw the country having more than 58,000 unemployed teachers, thousands of teachers not being confirmed in substantive positions, thousands of teachers not being upgraded in salary scales, a deficit of more than 1.3 million desks, thousands of university students without loans and meal allowances and less money spent on college and university education,” he said.
Mr Chansa said that NAQEZ is delighted that the President has created a Ministry of Science and Technology.
He said that this could not have come at a better time than this when every other country is investing heavily in science and technology.
“Collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and National Development Planning, Ministry of Infrastructure Development and other line ministries, this science and technology ministry could be instrumental in driving industrialisation , which has potential to create jobs for the youths and other citizens,” he said.
