Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Zambia National Educational Coalition (ZANEC) has called on government to invest more in the education and skills sector.
ZANEC Acting Executive Director Ivy Mutwale says the huge investment in the education sector will not only guarantee the future of the country, but will also place the youths of the nation on a vantage position to compete favorably with their peers in other parts of the world.
according to a statement made available to q-news, Ms. Mutwale says it makes sad realisation that Zambia stands at the bottom of the chart in literacy levels according to the southern Africa Consortium For Monitoring Educational Quality (SAQMEQ) report.
She says as joins the rest of the world in commemorating world literacy day which falls on 8th September 2018 it is important that literacy and skills development are prioritized and financed adequately for the country to attain meaningful development.
Ms. Mutwale has stated that skills development is crucial for human labour force and has to be taken seriously by our government and all actors in the education and skills sector.
She says it is sad to note that according to the Zambia democratic health survey 2013 – 2014, only 68 percent of women and 83 percent of men both aged 15 to 49 are literate, while only 54 percent of rural women are literate.
Ms. Mutwale feels that in order to reduce the high illiteracy levels in the country everyone’s concerted effort is needed to promote quality education for all.
She adds that it is through commemorating events such as this one that will ensure that no one is left behind as it is stipulated in the seventh national development plan and vision 2030.
And Ms. Mutwale has reaffirmed her organisations commitment to give equal attention to institutions of higher learning, through capacity enhancement of student union bodies and promotion of academic freedoms.
The 2018 theme is “literacy and skills development”.