Handover Ceremony for the Project for the Provision of School Furniture for Public Schools in Chingola, Copperbelt Province

On 26^th July 2024, Ambassador Takeuchi attended the handover ceremony for “the Project for the Provision of School Furniture for Public Schools in Chingola, Copperbelt Province”. The project was funded under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP). The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Honourable Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, in his capacity as Area Member of Parliament for Chingola Central Constituency, Mr. Raphael Chimupi, District Commissioner, Ms. Namukolo Kalufyanya, Town Clerk, and Mr. Noah Simulunga, District Education Board Secretary.
 
The Government of Zambia introduced free primary and secondary education policy in 2021. Since then, it has opened the school door for more than two million children who could not afford to attend school previously due to financial constraints. In consequence of the newly introduced free education policy, the demand for desks has risen as the number of the students increased across the country. This has made the improvement of the learning environment  an urgent matter more than ever before. To address this challenge, in response to a request from the NGO “BeRelevant Afrika” in Chingola, the Government of Japan has decided to provide them with assistance for the purchase of 290 desks for eight government schools in the district. The provision of these desks has enabled more than 800 children to attend classes in a much better environment.
 
During the ceremony, Ambassador Takeuchi emphasised the importance of providing appropriate learning environment, citing a heart-warming story of some parents who were delighted to see their grade one children sitting at desks for the first time during the lessons.
 
Over the past three decades, the GGP has continuously provided funding for the projects to improve the education environment in Zambia. Such projects include construction and rehabilitation of school facilities, improvements to water supply system and the provision of desks and other learning equipment for more than 35 schools across the country. The Government of Japan will continue to support the effort of the Government of Zambia to increase access to quality education for children.
 
To read the speech by Ambassador Takeuchi, please click here.