Maravi

Govt receives US$60m grant to support basic education

Govt receives US$60m grant to support basic education
Written by Agness Changala
Saturday, February 14, 2009 4:18:40 AM

The government has received a US$60 million grant from co-operating partners to support basic education in the country over a period of two years.

Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) executive director Mirriam Chinyama, in an interview, confirmed the development and commended the government and cooperating partners for Zambia’s qualification for the Fast Track Initiative (FTI) Catalytic Fund.

“We are aware that Zambia was admitted to the FTI through a concerted effort that saw Ministry of Education come up with a credible sector plan,” she said. “Although this comes seven years after the FTI was launched, it is an achievement worth commendation and recognition by stakeholders such as ourselves.”

And Chinyama has observed that the negative developments in the global and national economy, leading to high inflation rate and depreciation of the kwacha, were likely to have a negative effect on the implementation of this year’s budget.

She said commodity prices were expected to rise, thereby affecting the procurement of building and other requisite materials.

“In the same regard, given the 2008 year end inflation of 16.6 percent, the 2009 budget for education sector, in real terms, has only increased by about 4 percent despite the pronounced nominal growth figure of 24 percent,” she said.

Chinyama urged the government to seriously explore ways of dealing with the current economic challenges.

“The macroeconomic targets of five per cent and reduction of inflation to 10 per cent for this year by the government is a good start,” said Chinyama.

Labels: EDUCATION, GRANTS

posted by MrK @ 4:18 AM