We’ll address classroom congestion - Mundubile

…as Makebi Zulu discloses that none of the newly recruited health workers have been deployed to health facilities in Malambo Constituency despite government announcing the recruitment of thousands of medical personnel

By BARNABAS ZULU

BRIAN Mundubile has pledged to retain the free education policy should he be elected President in the August 13 general election, but says his administration will focus on improving the quality of education by investing in infrastructure and reducing classroom congestion.

And Makebi Zulu, the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential running mate has disclosed that none of the newly recruited health workers have been deployed to health facilities in Malambo Constituency despite government announcing the recruitment of thousands of medical personnel.

Speaking during a huge campaign rally in Malambo on Friday, Mr Mundubile, the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate said while the current administration had introduced free education, the system had not adequately addressed the challenges of overcrowded classrooms, making it difficult for teachers to effectively teach and assess learners.

“Free education will continue. The difference chabe ni imozi. Ise, our free education, we don’t want free education that does not allow a teacher to sit in class or mark pupils’ books.

We want teachers who will know pupils by their names. We will make sure that we invest in more education infrastructure so that we reduce learners’ numbers in class,” Mr Mundubile said.

He said his administration would work towards reducing the teacher-pupil ratio to one teacher for every 40 learners, arguing that the current situation, where some teachers handle classes of more than 100 pupils, compromises the quality of education.

“Not one teacher to 120, no, no,” he said.

President Hakainde Hichilema introduced free education in January 2022 and earlier this month signed the policy into law after Parliament passed the Education (Amendment) Bill on May 6.

And Mr Zulu said health facilities constructed during the Patriotic Front (PF) administration were operating without additional medical staff.

“The health facilities that were built by the PF government in Malambo have no new health workers. Government has been talking about employing health workers, but none of them have been deployed to Malambo,” Mr. Zulu said.

He said the situation had continued to deny residents access to adequate healthcare services, despite the availability of health infrastructure.

Mr. Zulu also alleged that farmers in the constituency were receiving fewer farming inputs compared to what they received under the PF government.

“It is saddening that our people have now been subjected to getting fertilizer in medas compared to the eight bags they were getting during the PF government,” he said.

He urged the people of Malambo to support the NRPUP in the August 13 general election, saying the party would improve service delivery and increase support to farmers if elected into office.

Mr. Zulu is touring Eastern Province alongside NRPUP presidential candidate Mr Mundubile as the party intensifies its campaigns ahead of the August general election.

Ends.