Editorial: Free Education - The Defining Legacy of the UPND's First Term
On Thursday, President Hakainde Hichilema changed the lives of millions of young people across the nation. On his birthday he signed the free-education bill into law guaranteeing future generations a legal right to access free schooling. The President described the law as a “historic day for Zambia” reinstating that the legislation protects millions as he formally entrenched a policy that has seen 2.6 million children return to classrooms since 2021.
Every child should be able to attend school regardless of their family’s income. Before free education was introduced, many children had to stay at home as their parents could not pay school fees. Today, the President’s continued loyalty to better the youth of Zambia means that families are not burdened by school expenses, and more children can freely enter classrooms to gain the skills needed to build a brighter future. The President emphasised at the signing that, “education is the best investment and greatest equaliser.” Furthermore, the signing of free education marks an important step in enshrining the policy in law, strengthening its continuity for future generations.
Speaking at State House, President Hichilema reinforced other reforms the UPND have enacted to support the free-education bill. The school feeding programme has expanded significantly growing from 1.5 million children in 2021 to 4.7 million children in 2026. The growth reflects the President’s commitment to improving child welfare and reducing classroom hunger, allowing children to concentrate on learning while easing the burden of nutrition on families.
The Government’s commitment to improving classroom learning is also reflected in the recruitment of more than 41,000 teachers. This has helped reduce the pupil-teacher ratio, directly improving the quality of education delivered in schools.
Ultimately, this reform is more than just a policy change, which highlights the Government’s commitment to improve access to education, raising academic standards through strengthened pass marks, and building a strong foundation for Zambia’s future generations.