By HELLEN TEMBO –
TOYOTA Zambia has handed over a cheque of K110,000 to World Vision Zambia towards the repair of Ndaiwala Primary School in Lundazi District, in Eastern Province, as part of improving education standards in rural areas.
Toyota Zambia chief operating officer Tayo Hashimoto said Toyota Zambia was committed to supporting the provision of quality education in rural communities in the country.
Mr Hashimoto said this during the launch of the partnership between Toyota Zambia and World Vision in Lusaka yesterday.
“Toyota Zambia recognises the important role that World Vision plays in providing quality education to various communities in this country.
“World Vision’s programmes are in line with Toyota Zambia’s corporate social responsibility of supporting programmes in areas of education, health and road safety,” he said.
Mr Hashimoto said Toyota Zambia was honoured to partner with World Vision Zambia to refurbish a one-by-two classroom block at Ndaiwala Primary School.
World Vision Zambia national director Mark Kelly said the K110,000 from Toyota Zambia was part of the proposed US$59,843 project to help rehabilitate the dilapidated school and offer the learners an opportunity to acquire education in a conducive learning environment.
Mr Kelly said the partnership would contribute to World Vision’s education strategy of improving the literacy levels of children through provision of equity and quality education.
“World Vision focuses on supplementing Government’s efforts in improving functional literacy among the children in schools. This is in view of extremely low literacy levels among the children in schools.
“We realise that in order to improve the literacy levels, children need to be in school,” Mr Kelly said.
Lundazi District Education Board Secretary Stephen Nyendwa said education was one of the fundamental building blocks in the development of the nation.
Mr Nyendwa said the Government was addressing access to quality and equal education, especially for girls, as a national priority.
Ndaiwala School head teacher Davies Banda thanked Toyota Zambia and World Vision Zambia for the “great partnership” that would uplift the face of the learning institution.