UPND criticises government delays in funding schools

THE UPND has made a statement sayinga lot of schools have not received funding from government for over six months. The press statement which was delivered by Southern UPND information and public secretary Neto Halwabala said the non payment of grants to schools was effecting the country’s quality of education.

“We have information that the PF government is paying schools K12,000 every six months instead of K20,000 per three months. They have failed to understand and implement UPND’s education policy, which they are coping. As UPND, we are surprised to learn that many schools have not been funded for the past six months,” Halwabala said.

In addition Halwabala added that the government has also failed to pay suppliers to schools, especially those providing boarding facilities.

“Without thinking, through UPND’s policy on free education, the PF decided to copy and paste the UPND policy on education by reducing school fees without coming up with stringent measures on how to increase the resource envelope for schools,” Halwabala said.

He urged that the management of schools were stressed financially. Catholic schools have only been receiving K3,000, which was also not paid on time.

“Just look at what the Catholics have done to our education sector. Why pay a day-school under the Catholic Church K3000? On the other hand most suppliers of teaching materials such as chalks, pens and books, including balls for games in school, are complaining of not being paid. Tournaments such as inter-school games are not spared,” he said.

Halwabala stressed the importance of increased funding for schools.

“The PF can only manage to pay schools enough money on time if they can reduce on unnecessary travels, stop corruption, but unfortunately the government under the leadership of Edgar Lungu is a failed project,” he said.

“We as a province are also concerned about the continued closure of the Copperbelt University. This again is disaster unto the education sector under the PF…. It is evil to treat young people whose future Zambia depends on like this…. We ask government to open CBU immediately,” said Halwabala.