. Koinuma

By FLAVIOR CHISHALA –
THE Japanese government has donated US$3 million to the ministry of Education in a bid to improve the education sector in Zambia.
The grant is under the Japan’s Grant Aid for Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) scheme.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Kiyoshi Koinuma said the country attached great importance to the development of human resource because without that, there could be no economic growth.
Mr Koinuma said the education sector was important in any nation for social stability, hence the need to have quality education.
He said the purpose of the grant was to construct a national science training centre, curriculum development, training of teachers and production of text books to enhance calculation skills.
“In 2012 our government gave Zambia $4 million and $3 million in 2013 in order to improve the quality of science and mathematics education in the country,” Mr Koinuma said.
He was hopeful that once the national science training centre was built, it would attract people from neighbouring countries to enroll for training.
Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Pamela Kabamba said the Government’s goal was to ensure that quality education was offered to the Zambian public by working together with cooperating partners.
Ms Kabamba said education in Zambia was prioritised as one of the key sectors that could positively contribute to the attainment of economic development.
She said finances committed to Zambia would be accounted for through prudent, efficient and effective utilisation.
“The Japanese government has been so supportive to Zambia in various sectors, including agriculture, health, transport and private sector development, among others,” Ms Kabamba said.