Govt funds Kapema community school

——–The government has released K470,000 for the construction of a one by three classroom block at Kapema Community School in Nchelenge district in Luapula province.

District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Bennie Mwansa, confirmed the release of the funds in an interview with ZANIS today.

Mr Mwansa said the government, through the Ministry of Education, Science Vocational Training and Early Education, has in principle approved the K470,000 to improve the learning environment at Kapema.

He said part of the money will be used to construct two staff houses, two single Ventilated Improved Pit-latrines (VIPs) for the staff houses and two double VIP latrines for the pupils.

The DEBS said his office awaits the disbursement of the funds for the commencement of the works and added that sub chief Kapema has been informed accordingly to mobilize his subjects for the 25 per cent upfront contribution.

He said the school will be built on cost-sharing where the community will have to mould bricks and ferry sand and stones as part of their 25 per cent contribution to entrench that sense of ownership in the property.

Meanwhile Mr Mwansa said the newly built Kashita Secondary School in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province has opened and so for 115 pupils have reported since the resumption of classes.

He said the school, which is located in Kanyembo chiefdom, has received teachers and administrators to enable it operate at full strength and meet the demands of the pupils.

Mr Mwansa disclosed that 60 of the pupils that have reported are in grade 8 while 15 and 40 are in grades 10 and 11 respectively.

The DEBS observed that the response is overwhelming, adding that the new learning institution was expected to absorb 400 hundred pupils this year alone from other schools across the district.

However, Mr Mwansa noted that the school has not yet been connected to the national grid for power supply and appealed to relevant authorities for quick action the matter.

He noted that wiring has already been done and appealed to authorities at the ministry of education to liaise with Zesco to expedite the process.