Government Agencies in Zambia

The Ministry of Education has initiated several projects supported by key cooperating partners to improve the delivery of quality education. The permanent secretary answerable to the Minister of Education is the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Education and is responsible for the management, coordination and overseeing of education services at all levels. The Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) is an autonomous institution that regulates, monitors and coordinates technical education, vocational and entrepreneurship training in consultation with industry, employers, workers and other stakeholders. Institutional accreditation and recognition is by the Ministry of Education. The Examination Council of Zambia is responsible for regulating examinations. University Councils are responsible for overseeing university education within the institutions themselves.

Public spending on education was 0.8& of GDP in 2009.

The government’s Sixth National Development Plan (2011-15) recognises the role of education in creating an educated population that can participate fully in the country’s development and in reducing poverty, particularly through the pursuit of gender equality. 

The National Long-Term Vision 2030 – Zambia’s first long-range plan, launched in December 2006 – is of a prosperous middle-income country by the year 2030, underpinned by the principles of gender-responsive sustainable development; democracy; respect for human rights; good traditional and family values; a positive attitude to work; peaceful coexistence; and public–private partnerships. Education for all is an important development objective of the Vision.

Zambia qualified for the World Bank’s ‘Fast Track Initiative’ – known since September 2011 as the Global Partnership for Education – which is aimed at meeting the education Millennium Development Goals and the Education for All goal that all children complete a full cycle of primary education by 2015. Since 2002, under the initiative developing countries have committed to design and implement sound education plans and development partners commit to align and harmonise additional support around these plans.