Many children in Zambia lack access to quality education. Only one in three children complete early childhood education, and 65% of children in grade 2-3 are unable to read or write. As well, national budget allocations to education are too low, with early childhood education making up only 0.1% of the education sector budget. We aim to increase access to quality, inclusive education with a focus on early childhood and lower basic education.
OUR EDUCATION WILL:
Support government, communities, girls and boys to increase demand for quality, inclusive early childhood care and development education and lower basic education.
Support government and communities to improve children's literacy and numeracy skills, as well as the learning environment for girls and boys.
Support government and communities to increase girls' access to early childhood care and development education and lower basic education.
Improve community engagement in early childhood care and development education and lower basic education.
Ensure refugee children have access to quality, inclusive early childhood care and development education and lower basic education, even in emergencies.
OUR FOCUS
We focus on the most marginalised and deprived children in rural parts of Western, Muchinga, North Western, Copperbelt and Luapula provinces. We work with children that are living with a disability, children living with HIV/AIDS, orphans, girls, migrant and refugee children, children who belong to minority groups because of their race, language or religion, children involved in the labour market or domestic work, children living in rural and remote communities, as well as children who belong to disadvantaged families.
OUR APPROACH
Be the voice:
- Advocate the government for inclusive early childhood care and development education, ensuring marginalised children receive a quality education.
- Advocate for increased budget allocation to early childhood care and development education and support communities to monitor district government budgets.
- Advocate for inclusive, gender-sensitive education in all early childhood care and development education and basic education schools.
Innovation:
- Contribute to an effective transition from inclusive early childhood care and development education to basic education by improving learning outcomes through a 'Ready to Learn' approach.
- Train teachers and care givers in inclusive teaching methodologies and production of teaching/learning materials with local resources. This will be complemented by technical support supervision to teachers and care givers.
- Integrate early childhood development for children aged three and under, which supports early stimulation, health, nutrition and protection of young children, into the early childhood care and development education centres.
Achieve results at scale:
- Generate demand for inclusive early childhood development education through community engagement and sensitizations on the importance of early childhood care and development education. This will increase enrolments and attendance rates.
- Use social and behavioral change communications and materials in the communities.
- Support children's continued learning at home.
Build partnerships:
- Work with children and our partners such as schools, communities, civil society organizations, government ministries, cooperating partners (UNICEF, UNHCR) to guarantee the optimization of skills and resources and avoid duplication of efforts.
- Continue partnering with government to ensure that the early childhood education policy is finalized and fully operationalized.
PROJECTS
These children benefit from Sponsorship programming in Zambia. Kelvin Mulenga/Save the children
CREATING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ZAMBIAN CHILDREN
Thando is in the fifth grade at school in Zambia. She benefits from Sponsorship programming in her school and village. Her father is a clinical officer at a local health clinic which is supported by Save the Children. Following in her father's footsteps, Thando wants to be a doctor when she grows up to help the sick. Kelvin Mulenga/Save the Children
CHILDREN'S FUTURE
Nalishebo and Namonje enjoying their High Energy Protein supplement provided by Save the Children through the school feeding programme. Malama Mwila / Save the Children
ZAMBIA SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAM
Step by step Guide to Hand washing as shown by a child in Zambia. malama mwila
BETTER HEALTH IN SCHOOL PROJECT
