The Ministry of Education in Zambia has secured commitments from leading telecommunications companies and financial institutions to support efforts aimed at expanding internet connectivity to schools across the country.
The pledge was made during a partners’ engagement meeting on School Connectivity held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Lusaka. The initiative brings together key stakeholders from the private sector and government to accelerate digital access in education and improve modern teaching and learning methods.
Companies represented at the meeting included Zamtel, Airtel Zambia, MTN Zambia, Absa Bank Zambia, First National Bank Zambia, Stanbic Bank Zambia, Standard Chartered Zambia, and Zanaco, alongside the Presidential Delivery Unit, Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Zambia Research and Education Network (ZAMREN).
Speaking at the meeting, the Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary for Administration highlighted the importance of collaboration in transforming education delivery, noting that improved connectivity is already reshaping classroom experiences by enabling teachers to adopt new methods and expanding learners’ access to knowledge.
The Ministry further emphasized that education remains central to national development, pointing to the new curriculum’s strong focus on digital literacy and computer science. It also reaffirmed its target of connecting an additional 2,500 schools to reliable internet services by the end of 2026.
The Smart Zambia Institute stated its readiness to support government efforts in achieving national connectivity goals, while the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority stressed the importance of ensuring that no learner is left behind in the digital era.
The initiative marks a significant step toward bridging the digital divide and strengthening Zambia’s education system through expanded access to digital infrastructure and learning tools.
