. Education

By KAIKO NAMUSA  –
THE education sector has been allocated K9.4 billion or 20 per cent of the total National Budget for 2015.
Unveiling the K46.7 billion 2015 National Budget, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said from the allocation, K650 million would be for the construction of student hostels in public universities while K200.2 million would go towards student bursaries.
For student bursaries, the allocation is an increment from the K156.5 million allocated in the 2014 National Budget.
Mr Chikwanda said the increment in bursaries would address challenges facing vulnerable school leavers in accessing tertiary education at colleges and universities.
Mr Chikwanda said the cost of publicly providing tertiary education per students in Zambia was among the highest in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
“There is need, therefore, to review the cost of providing tertiary education in Zambia. I have raised the allocation to bursaries by 27.9 per cent to K200.2 million from the 2014 allocation of K156.5 million,” he said.
On the construction of student hostels, Mr Chikwanda said these would be built at the University of Zambia in Lusaka, the Copperbelt University in Kitwe, Mulungushi University in Kabwe and Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka.
The K650 million would also cater for continued construction of new universities.
The minister said the new universities that were earmarked for completion in 2015 were Paul Mushindo, Chalimbana and Palabana and that construction of King Lewanika and Luapula universities would start next year.
Mr Chikwanda said Robert Kapasa Makasa, Mukuba and Kwame Nkrumah universities were almost complete.
In an effort to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio, Mr Chikwanda said 68 per cent of the amount would go towards the recruitment of 5,000 teachers and sustaining the current establishment.
Mr Chikwanda also allocated K1.1 billion for infrastructure development for early childhood, primary and secondary education.
He said following the successful piloting of the school feeding programme, K32 million had been allocated to widen the roll-out of the programme in 2015.
In the health sector, Mr Chikwanda allocated K4.5 billion out which K268.2 million was for the construction and rehabilitation of health infrastructure in various parts of the country.
He said K753.5 million had been set aside for the procurement of essential drugs and medical supplies while K52.5 million would be for the recruitment of more than 2,000 health officers.
Mr Chikwanda said K798.7 million was allocated for housing and community amenities, of which K541 million would be for the rehabilitation and construction of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in the rural, peri-urban and urban areas.
The public order and safety has been allocated K2.2 million and key interventions would involve modernisation of the security wings, as well as recruitment of security personnel, including immigration and prison officers.
The funds would also cover the rehabilitation of prison infrastructure, construction and rehabilitation of staff houses.
On social protection, K1.3 billion has been provided of which K805 million is for the Pubic Service Pension Fund, K180.6 million for the social cash transfer scheme and K50 million for the food security pack.
The allocation to social protection translates to 2.7 per cent of the overall expenditure in 2015.
Mr Chikwanda said K3.7 billion had been allocated to the remaining functions of defence, environmental protection and recreation, culture and religion.
He said K500 million had been allocated to ensure continued infrastructure development in the newly-created provinces and districts.
About K210 million is for the Constituency Development Fund and K100 million to cater for court cases decided against the Government while the Constitution-making process has received K29.3 million.
“The Constitution-making process has continued keenly and in earnest, as the Government discusses the matter with all interest groups and content,” he said.