Requirements for a Private School in Zambia
Since public schools in Zambia are free but underfunded, homeschooling is a popular choice for parents who want to give their children a quality education without the fees of a private school. There are several good public schools in major centres, such as Lusaka, but finding a good public school in remote areas of Zambia is proving more difficult. The Education and Skills Sector Plan 2017-2021 aims to prevent “manipulative behaviour by teachers that forces learners to take private lessons”, which carries risks of corruption (p. 183). Non-public schools are free to provide private tuition, although there is no evidence that private tutoring by centres or individuals is regulated by current education regulations. As part of the registration process, private providers must indicate whether they offer private lessons (tutorial). Unlike public and private schools, international schools in Zambia often have their school year after the school year in their home country. For example, some U.S. schools follow the typical U.S. school year, which begins in August, rather than the school year in Zambia, which begins in January. Public schools in Zambia are poorly funded and under-resourced. Most of the wealthiest residents send their children to a rather expensive private school. Currently, some children attend boarding schools in South Africa to attend secondary school, although there are more and more good secondary schools, mainly in Lusaka.
Private schools operate independently of the Zambian government and have flexibility in admission, program choice and school year. Board of Directors: Higher Education Act No. In 20134, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) was established, a grant-funded body responsible for coordinating, regulating, monitoring and supervising higher education standards. The 11 members of the Authority`s Council are appointed by the Minister of Higher Education. HEA`s role includes developing guidelines for enrollment, setting standards for programs and conferences, and ensuring the quality of all registered higher education institutions. The holder of a private higher education institution appoints a council (Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013, Art. 24). Student assessment: National examinations are held annually in grades 7, 9 and 11 in independent private schools and state-funded private schools.
The National Assessment System (NAS) also covers grade 5 and 9 students in public, private, grant-aided and community schools, and assesses students in three subjects administered in English. Sanctions: The Ministry of Education may cancel the enrolment of a private school if, in its opinion, the school no longer complies with any of the provisions of the Act, has been managed in a manner detrimental to the interests of learners, or has remained closed for a continuous period of six months or more (Education Act, 2011, s. 16). Reporting requirements: There are no sanctions based on the results of school inspections or services provided to early childhood education facilities. Taxes and subsidies: A funded higher education institution means “a higher education institution that is not a public higher education institution and that is established or maintained by a person, organization or community with the support of the Ministry” (Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013, Art. 1). In this context, the Seventh National Development Plan 2017-2021 aims to promote private sector participation in higher education and increase private sector participation in higher education financing.
However, the majority of private institutions are self-financing in terms of personal remuneration, infrastructure and programme development. The country has adopted the 2019 Labour Code, which covers workers in both the private and public sectors. Formal education is usually in school, where a person can acquire basic, academic or craft skills. Young children often attend kindergarten, but often formal education begins in primary school and continues with secondary school. Post-secondary education (or higher education) is usually done at a college or university that can award a university degree. Or students can go to a college in the city where they learn practical skills. In this way, learners can be referred to as plumbers, electricians, construction workers and similar professions. These courses have arrangements for students to gain hands-on experience. Apprenticeship training was the old method, selection and procedure of admission: the Senate should “regulate and determine the conditions for admission of persons to university and university study programmes and their continuation in these courses” (Law No. 4 of 2013 on Higher Education, Art.
36). Annual online homeschooling fees for IGCSE students range from $2,486 to $4,968 per year for six subjects. Textbooks cost between $300 and $400, and depending on the test centre, exam fees range from $1,000 to $2,000. The Education Act 2001 (section 14), which covers early childhood education and education up to higher education, refers only to “holders of maintained and private schools” who are competent persons or bodies of persons responsible for the management of such schools. At the same time, the Education and Skills Sector Plan 2017-2021 refers to the “role of non-state actors” in education provision, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations. The 1996 National Education Policy aims to establish new partnerships with all types of education providers, including “private sector providers, non-governmental organizations, local communities and religious groups”. In addition, the Seventh National Development Plan 2017-21 2017-21 outlines the government`s objective to support “private education and training providers” in providing education and training to all at all levels. It highlights the role of cooperation partners and “non-state actors” such as the private sector, civil society and faith-based organizations.
