By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

GOVERNMENT has urged the private sector to invest in building schools in rural areas.
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early education, Patrick Ngoma said Government alone could not provide education to pupils in rural areas and therefore needed support from the private sector.
Mr Ngoma said this at the official opening of Vinjeru Trust School in Kapiri Mposhi.
“More often than not, private schools are established in urban areas and not in rural areas. That you have thought of constructing Vinjeru Trust School in a rural town is indeed commendable.
“This means that more children leaving primary will be able to get places in secondary school in this school,” Mr Ngoma said.
He said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government was a pro-poor Government whose interest was to take development to the rural areas as well.
Government realised that on its own it was not possible to provide quality and equitable education to all children.
It was for this reason that one of the PF Government’s policies was to encourage the private sector to partner with the Ministry in Education in provision of education.
Mr Ngoma said Government had embarked on an aggressive programme of constructing additional secondary schools, especially in rural areas.
He said he was happy to learn that a good percentage of the pupils at Vinjeru would be receiving bursary support generated both locally and abroad because like many rural places in Zambia, the children at the school were vulnerable and needed support.
And Vinjeru Trust School Principal, Martin Simbeye assured Government that the school would operate in line with the Ministry of Education’s standard in provision of education.
Mr Simbeye said the school which was being funded by well-wishers and a board of trustees from United Kingdom is aimed at complementing Government’s efforts in making education accessible to all in Zambia.
The school which will run up to Grade 12 has currently enrolled three Grade eight classes and has employed five permanent teaching staff to cover the curriculum this academic year.
Mr Simbeye said the school was established with funds organised through a charity setup by a cadre of volunteers and well-wishers based in the United Kingdom and Zambia.