Over 830 vulnerable children benefit from ZOCS bursaries

A total of 836 vulnerable children from 11 districts in nine provinces have benefited from the Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS) bursaries scheme programme in the last 20 years.

ZOCS patron Michael Kelly said children deserve to have a good start in life for them to attain good education and grow into responsible citizens in future.

Professor Kelly, who is also a ZOCS trustee member, said communities have a responsibility of giving hope to children through quality education.

He explained that ZOCS came into existence in the early 1990s to provide some basic education to orphans and venerable children who could not afford school costs.

Prof. Kelly said ZOCS has been providing quality education that has instilled hope in thousands of children across the country.

He has also said from the time the programme started, more than 120, 000 children in 500 schools have received quality education under a tree in Misisi compound in Lusaka. 

Meanwhile, Ministry Education Director of Planning and Information Owen Mgemezulu said government was hoping to have many children complete school through the bursaries scheme programme.

Mr. Mgemezulu observed that in the past two decades, government has worked towards achieving the international goal on children’s education.