Feeding Hope: Reverend Mwananyanda’s Mission to Keep Kabwe Children Learning

At Lufutuko Christian Community School, education is being combined with food, faith and humanitarian service to give vulnerable children a better chance at the future

By Moses Sayela Walubita

KABWE — In a classroom in Kabwe, the lesson may begin with books and a teacher at the front, but for some learners, the ability to concentrate begins with something much more basic — having something to eat.

It is this reality that has shaped the work of Reverend Mutinta Mwananyanda, the founder and driving force behind Lufutuko Christian Community School.

For Reverend Mwananyanda, education cannot be separated from the circumstances in which children live.

A child who is hungry, she believes, needs more than a lesson. That child needs support, dignity and an environment that makes learning possible.

It is this philosophy that has made the school's feeding programme an important part of its community-centred approach.

The programme provides food to learners while helping create conditions in which children can remain focused on their education.

And behind the meals is a wider humanitarian vision — one that connects education, faith and service to the community.

Lufutuko Christian Community School represents more than an institution providing academic instruction.

Under Reverend Mwananyanda's leadership, the school has embraced a broader responsibility towards the welfare of children.

The feeding programme is a practical expression of that responsibility.

For families facing economic difficulties, ensuring that children have access to food while at school can ease one of the pressures that may affect their ability to participate fully in education.

For learners, a meal can mean having the energy to concentrate, participate in lessons and remain engaged throughout the school day.

The initiative reflects a simple but important principle: education works best when the needs of the whole child are considered.

Reverend Mwananyanda's approach has consequently turned the school into a space where humanitarian service and education intersect.

On September 19, 2025, Arise and Shine Christian University in the United Kingdom conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarian and NGO Management on Reverend Mwananyanda.

The recognition marked an important milestone in a journey rooted in community service.

For Reverend Mwananyanda, the doctorate represented recognition of work that has focused on improving the lives of children and communities.

It also drew attention to the contribution that grassroots initiatives can make to humanitarian development.

Her story challenges the idea that meaningful humanitarian work must always begin with large organisations or international institutions.

Sometimes, it begins with a school, a community and an individual willing to respond to a need.

In 2024, Lufutuko Christian Community School received another remarkable moment of international attention when former United States First Lady Laura Bush visited the school while in Zambia with her husband, former US President George W. Bush.

The visit brought an internationally recognised name to a community institution whose work is focused on education and the wellbeing of children.

It was also significant given Mrs Bush's longstanding association with education and literacy initiatives.

For the school and the Kabwe community, the visit provided visibility for work that had largely been taking place away from the international spotlight.

But the significance of the visit goes beyond the presence of two former US leaders.

It demonstrated that a community-based initiative can attract attention when its work responds to issues that resonate far beyond its immediate surroundings.

For Reverend Mwananyanda, however, recognition is unlikely to be the ultimate measure of success.

It is found in a young person who begins to see education not as an impossible dream, but as a pathway to a different future.

That is where the humanitarian mission of Lufutuko becomes most visible. The meals served at the school may not make international headlines. The daily lessons may not attract distinguished visitors. But together, they represent a sustained investment in children's futures.

The experience of Lufutuko Christian Community School also raises a broader question for Zambia: how can communities ensure that children are able to benefit fully from education when poverty and basic needs remain barriers to learning?

Government, communities, churches, civil society organisations and other partners all have roles to play in creating supportive environments for children.

School feeding initiatives can be part of that wider effort, particularly where household economic pressures make it difficult for families to meet children's nutritional needs.

Reverend Mwananyanda's work demonstrates what can happen when education is viewed through a wider humanitarian lens. Her honorary doctorate is now part of her journey.

The visit by the Bushes remains an important chapter in the history of Lufutuko Christian Community School. But neither achievement defines the mission.

The mission continues every day when a child walks through the school gates, receives a meal, enters a classroom and is given another opportunity to learn.

For Reverend Mutinta Mwananyanda, the recognition may be international, but the mission remains deeply local — feeding hope, protecting dignity and building futures one child at a time.

 ANDD Urges Mr. Hichilema’s Government to Shift Focus to Livelihoods 

By Alain Kabinda

By Alain Kabinda

The Advocates for National Development and Democracy (ANDD) has congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema on securing a renewed mandate, urging Government to shift its attention from political contestation to improving the livelihoods of Zambians.

Speaking to the media in Lusaka, ANDD Executive Director Samuel Banda said the conclusion of the electoral process should now pave the way for Government, the private sector and other stakeholders to focus on economic development, job creation and improved public services.

                                                                 Mr.  Samuel Banda

“With the elections now over, the focus of the country must shift from political contestation to the issues that affect the lives and livelihoods of Zambians,” Mr Banda said.

He said ANDD welcomed Government’s Grow Zambia Agenda, which it described as an important framework for advancing national development, economic growth and improved livelihoods.

Mr Banda said the agenda should prioritise productive sectors, sustainable domestic economic growth, investment, employment creation and the empowerment of local businesses.

He said economic growth should translate into tangible improvements in household incomes, employment opportunities, public services and opportunities for Zambians to participate meaningfully in the economy.

He further called for greater local benefits from investments in the mining sector, saying the industry remained critical to Zambia’s economic prospects.

The organisation cited investments involving Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Mopani Copper Mines, First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and the Mingomba Mine as having the potential to increase copper production, attract investment and create employment.

However, Mr Banda said increased investment and mineral production should result in broader economic benefits for citizens.

He said such benefits should be reflected through increased employment, greater participation of Zambian businesses in the mining value chain, skills development and improved livelihoods in mining communities.

Mr. Banda commended Government’s efforts to strengthen local participation through the Local Content Framework.

Mr Banda said Zambian-owned businesses, contractors, suppliers, professionals and workers should have meaningful opportunities to participate in the mining value chain.

He also recognised progress made by KCM and FQM in promoting local content and encouraged other mining companies to comply with local content requirements and establish business models that create genuine opportunities for Zambian enterprises.

On the renewed Government mandate, Mr. Banda added that the 2026 electoral outcome presented an opportunity for the administration to accelerate implementation of its development agenda while addressing concerns over the cost of living, household incomes, employment and the cost of doing business.

Mr Banda stressed the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

“A renewed mandate must also come with renewed responsibility. Government and institutions must remain open to scrutiny, criticism and meaningful citizen participation,” he said.

Mr. Banda also urged the private sector and civil society organisations to continue contributing to national development while holding public institutions accountable.

On national unity, Mr Banda said political differences were legitimate in a democracy but should not become a source of division or violence.

He called on political leaders and citizens to uphold peace and place national interests above partisan considerations.

“The next five years should be judged not simply by political promises, but by tangible outcomes for the Zambian people,” Mr Banda said.

He said ANDD would continue supporting national development initiatives, advocating for accountability and good governance, and promoting economic inclusion for ordinary Zambians.

“Let Zambia move forward,” Mr Banda said.

 Zambia Shares School Health Lessons with Malawi

By Alain Kabinda

For a child, being sick can mean more than missing a day in the classroom.

Repeated illness can mean falling behind in lessons, missing examinations, losing confidence and, in some cases, eventually dropping out of school.

But Zambia is seeking to change that reality by bringing health services closer to where children spend much of their day — the school.

Since the implementation of its school health programme in 2014, Zambia has increasingly integrated health interventions into the education system, with officials saying the approach has helped address illnesses among learners and reduce health-related absenteeism.

The experience is now attracting interest from neighbouring Malawi, whose education and health officials are in Zambia on a learning visit to understand how the country's school health programme is being implemented.

The workshop in Lusaka, hosted in collaboration with Healthy Learners, has brought together officials from the two countries to exchange experiences on school health, nutrition, teacher training, health services, data and coordination between government ministries.

Speaking during the workshop in Lusaka Zambia Ministry of Education Assistant Director for School Health and Nutrition Maybin Luulu, said that the programme has demonstrated the importance of putting health services within reach of learners.

Mr Luulu said the programme has recorded visible successes since its introduction, particularly in addressing diseases and reducing absenteeism among learners.

He said some health conditions can be identified and treated within schools, while learners requiring additional attention can be referred through the established health system.

He also said, that children do not necessarily have to lose valuable learning time simply because they require medical attention.

“The programme has helped to reduce disease and has helped to reduce absenteeism,” Mr Luulu said.

He explained that the availability of health interventions within schools has also changed the way learners respond to health challenges.

Rather than waiting until a condition becomes severe, learners can receive assistance at school or be connected to appropriate health facilities.

Mr Luulu said Zambia was proud to share its experience with Malawi but emphasised that the exchange was intended to be a two-way learning process.

“We are glad to have the Malawian delegation here to look at how our programme works,” he said, adding that Zambia would also learn from Malawi's experience.

And according to Ministry of Health National Coordinator for School Health and Nutrition Dr Brian Mulubwa, is partly rooted in collaboration between government ministries.

He said the Ministry of Health provides technical support to teachers, including curriculum and training packages that enable them to deliver health education and appropriate health services within schools.

The ministry also monitors implementation of school health programmes and interacts with data generated from schools.

Dr Mulubwa said the involvement of the Ministry of Local Government was also important because of its role in supporting infrastructure under Zambia's decentralised system.

He said the three ministries working together had made it easier to implement school health interventions.

“Working together with the Ministry of Education has made the implementation of the school health programme simpler. Rather than working in silos, we are able to leverage the already existing resources for the benefit of the children,” Dr Mulubwa said.

The approach illustrates a fundamental shift in the way school health is being viewed — not as the responsibility of the health sector alone, but as a shared responsibility involving education, local authorities, teachers, health workers and communities.

Meanwhile Health Learners Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Lonnie Hackett, said tat Malawi's interest in Zambia's experience is a significant milestone in the development of the programme.

Mr Hackett recalled that the journey began around 2017 or 2018, when the programme was operating in only about 10 schools in Zambia.

During that period, Zambia undertook a learning visit to Japan to understand how school health programmes were being implemented there.

The expectation was that Zambia would eventually develop an approach that other countries could learn from.

Mr Hackett, however, said the relationship should not be viewed as a one-directional transfer of knowledge.

He said Zambia also has much to learn from Malawi's long experience and commitment to school health and nutrition.

He described the partnership as being driven by a shared belief that children should have access to both education and healthcare.

“Every child deserves the right to health and the right to a quality education,” Mr Hackett said.

He said children who become sick should not simply be sent home without support.

Such an environment, he said, helps children understand that they matter and that their health and education are important.

And Malawi Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Director of Inclusive Education and School Health Nutrition Ms.Virginia Kachigunda said the delegation was also prepared to share lessons from Malawi.

                                                            Ms. Virginia Kachigunda

She said Malawi already has a well-coordinated school health and nutrition programme in which the Ministry of Health plays a major supporting role.

Ms Kachigunda said the education sector provides teachers and educators, while the health sector provides specialised personnel, services and referral pathways.

She stressed that the two sectors must work together because education cannot succeed when learners are unhealthy.

“Our learners cannot learn if they are unhealthy. We cannot, as education, educate,” she said.

Ms Kachigunda said Malawi was therefore pleased that health workers were supporting efforts to strengthen interventions in the country.

She said the partnership could help reach more learners with health services and strengthen programmes already operating in Malawi.

Beyond reducing illness and absenteeism, the two countries see school health as an investment in national development.

Ms Kachigunda said healthy learners were more likely to become productive citizens capable of contributing to the development of Zambia and Malawi.

She said education should not be viewed simply as an end in itself, but as a tool for developing individuals and societies.

“We want to give them [education] in school not only as an end in itself, but as a means towards developing Zambia, developing Malawi,” she said.

The Malawian official also praised Zambia for turning lessons from its study visit to Japan into practical interventions.

She challenged officials undertaking international learning visits to ensure that the knowledge acquired is translated into meaningful changes when they return home.

The Zambia-Malawi exchange ultimately raises a broader question about what it means to create a school environment where children can genuinely learn.

A child who is hungry, sick or unable to access basic health services faces barriers that cannot be solved by a teacher alone.

Likewise, health workers cannot fully address children's needs without the cooperation of schools, teachers, communities and education authorities.

This is why the two countries are increasingly looking towards integrated approaches that bring the health and education sectors together.

For Zambia, the experience since 2014 offers lessons on what can happen when government resources and expertise are brought together around the needs of the child.

For Malawi, the learning visit provides an opportunity to identify approaches that can strengthen its existing school health and nutrition programmes.

And for the children at the centre of these efforts, the intended outcome is straightforward: fewer days lost to illness, better access to health services and a greater chance to remain in school and learn.

As Zambia shares its experience and Malawi contributes its own lessons, the two neighbouring countries are demonstrating that improving education may begin with something as fundamental as ensuring that children are healthy enough to learn.

(c) All Rights Resreved, 

 

Bishop’s Council Defends Church’s Role in Zambia’s Sovereignty Debate

By Alain Kabinda 

 LUSAKA,- The Bishop’s Council of Zambia has defended the Church’s involvement in recent national and political developments, arguing that its interventions are rooted in its constitutional, moral and pastoral responsibilities rather than partisan politics.

 In a statement issued by the Council’s Vice President for Women and Youth Affairs, Dr Reverend Apostle Agness Kaposa Pushi to Daily News she stated that, the Church rejected criticism directed at a Bishop who publicly questioned the United Nations’ position on Zambia’s internal affairs.

( Agness 

 Dr Pushi said the Bishop’s criticism of the United Nations should not be interpreted as opposition to international cooperation, but as a defence of Zambia’s sovereignty and judicial institutions.

 “The Church’s position is that justice in Zambia must be dispensed through Zambian institutions,” Dr. Pushi said, maintaining that allegations of treason and insurrection should be determined through the country’s courts rather than external institutions.

 The Council also defended the Church’s reported involvement in the departure of opposition figures from United Nations premises.

 According to Dr. Pushi said that the Church leaders acted as a neutral and trusted third party after being requested to assist by the opposition figures themselves. Dr Pushi said the Church’s role was humanitarian and pastoral, and included facilitating their safe departure and access to legal representation.

She has also rejected suggestions that the Church had betrayed or handed over political figures to law enforcement, arguing instead that its intervention was intended to facilitate due process and prevent further tension.

 The statement further criticised what it described as sustained attacks on the Church’s role in national affairs.

 Dr Pushi said the Church has a longstanding tradition of providing moral guidance, mediation and reconciliation during periods of political and social tension.

 She also cited comments attributed to Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe, warning that continued attacks against the Church could diminish its ability to contribute meaningfully to national dialogue.

 “A silenced Church is a weakened Zambia,” She said.

 The Council maintained that the Church does not seek political power and is not aligned with any political party. Instead, it said, its role is to promote justice, constitutional order and the common good.

 The statement concluded by reaffirming the Church’s commitment to Zambia’s sovereignty, rule of law and national unity, while calling for justice to be pursued through the country’s own legal institutions.

 Wonderful Industry Honours 44 Long-Serving Employees

By Alain Kabinda 

 For some employees, a decade at one company may simply be a number. At Wonderful Industry Ltd, however, 10 years represents a journey of loyalty, sacrifice, professional growth and commitment to building an organisation from its early beginnings.

 That journey was celebrated when **44 employees were honoured for completing 10 years of service** with Wonderful Industry Ltd.

 The service awards ceremony brought together company leadership, group leaders and employees to recognise the contribution of long-serving members of staff who have witnessed and participated in the company's growth over the years.

 Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lusaka Wonderful Industry Ltd General Manager Mr. Jigar Thakkar described the occasion as a special opportunity to celebrate employees whose dedication has helped move the company forward.

 “Today we recognise 44 colleagues who have given 10 years of service, commitment and hard work to Wonderful Industry,” Mr. Thakkar said.

 He noted that many of the recipients had not only remained with the company but had also grown alongside it, contributing directly to its development.

 For Mr. Thakkar, the awards were therefore about more than recognising years on the job. They were about appreciating the people behind the company's progress.

 “Many have grown with this company and contributed directly to its progress, and we celebrate you today,” he said.

 He also thanked the company's group leaders for their continued guidance and support to employees.

 To the award recipients, Mr. Thakkar offered his congratulations and appreciation for remaining part of the Wonderful Industry family.

 “Today is about you. Congratulations on this important milestone, and thank you for being part of Wonderful Industry,” he said.

 Wonderful Industry Ltd Group Board Chairman Mr. Gilbert Phiri  used the occasion to reflect on the company's journey and the role employees have played in shaping its growth.

 Mr. Phiri congratulated the recipients for their service, saying their commitment had made the company proud.

 He acknowledged that some of those receiving the 10-year awards had actually served the organisation for even longer.

 In an era where employees frequently change jobs for various reasons, Mr. Phiri said remaining with one organisation for 10 years or more was a significant achievement.

 “These days, it is very difficult for people to stick to one employment for various reasons,” he said.

 He particularly congratulated employees who served with dedication and energy.

 NPA Puts Public Trust at the Centre of Justice

By Alain Kabinda

For many citizens, the justice system is experienced not through constitutional provisions or legal statutes, but through a conversation with a prosecutor, a visit to a public office, a court appearance or the way an official responds to a complaint.

It is against this everyday reality that the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) has launched a Service Charter, placing public trust, accountability and the quality of service at the centre of its prosecutorial mandate.

The Charter was unveiled on September 11, 2026, during the inaugural NPA Day held under the theme “The People’s Authority: Prosecution in Your Name, Justice for All.”

Speaking at the commemoration and the launch of the Service Charter National Prosecution Authority (NPA) Director of Public Prosecutions Gilbert A. Phiri, SC,stated that the occasion was more than an institutional celebration and It was an opportunity to remind prosecutors that the authority they exercise belongs ultimately to the people.

He said prosecution was a form of public power exercised in the name of citizens and must therefore be guided by law, evidence, fairness, independence and justice.

At the heart of the new Charter is a simple but important proposition: justice must not only be delivered; it must also be experienced by citizens as fair, professional, accessible and responsive.

Mr Phiri said the responsibility of a prosecutor goes beyond securing convictions.

“The role of the prosecutor is not merely to secure convictions, but to do justice,” he said, stressing the need for prosecutors to assess evidence objectively, make principled decisions, protect victims’ rights and respect the constitutional rights of accused persons.

For a victim, the prosecution process can represent a search for justice and closure. For a person accused of an offence, it can determine liberty, reputation and livelihood. For communities, the credibility of the justice system can influence whether people trust public institutions enough to report crime and cooperate with investigations.

Mr. Phiri added that this Charter is intended to establish standards around responsiveness, professionalism, courtesy, accessibility and accountability.

But the authority acknowledges that the document will have little value if its commitments remain on paper.

Mr Phiri said, will be whether the standards are reflected in offices, courtrooms and the daily decisions of prosecutors.

The theme of “justice for all” also speaks to a persistent public concern — whether access to justice is equal for people regardless of their social or economic circumstances.

Mr Phiri said justice should not be a privilege reserved for people with influence, resources or connections.

He said the justice system must serve everyone — including marketeers, students, farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, children, the elderly, vulnerable people, victims and accused persons — with fairness, professionalism and respect.

Every interaction with a member of the public can either reinforce confidence in the justice system or deepen perceptions that public institutions are distant and inaccessible.

The Authority says it therefore intends to strengthen its engagement with communities, embrace technology and modern prosecution methods, invest in staff development and work more closely with investigators and other justice institutions.

The NPA leadership stressed that independence does not mean freedom from professional or legal responsibility.

Mr Phiri said prosecutors must not allow personal interests, fear, favour or preferential treatment to influence decisions.

Where evidence and the law provide a sufficient basis for prosecution, the Authority must act without fear or favour. Where the evidence does not support a case, prosecutors must similarly be prepared to make principled decisions.

The challenge, therefore, is to maintain independence while ensuring that the public can understand and assess the quality of services being provided.

The NPA openly acknowledges that there is room for improvement and says the Charter provides a framework for becoming more efficient, accessible and responsive while giving citizens a basis on which to hold the institution accountable.

And Representing Secretary to the Cabinet, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet–Administration Dr Oliver M. Kalabo described the Service Charter as a basic contract between the NPA and the public.

He said citizens often experience government through the individual officer they meet at the front desk, rather than through policies and institutions themselves.

The Charter therefore clarifies what the NPA does, the level of service citizens should expect, the timeframes involved and what recourse is available when standards are not met.

Dr Kalabo said the Charter performs three important functions: clarifying the NPA's mandate, establishing measurable service standards and inviting the public to judge the institution against those standards.

He added that, respects the constitutional independence of the Director of Public Prosecutions under Article 180(7), but that independence must be accompanied by professionalism, efficiency and accessibility.

He further pointed to the decentralisation of NPA services to all ten provinces as part of efforts to ensure justice is felt beyond the capital.

The engagement of the Authority with schools, including Manungu and Kaunda Square Secondary School of Excellence, was also cited as an example of taking the justice conversation closer to communities.

For NPA Board Chairperson Moses Phiri, the Charter should not be treated as another administrative document.

He described it as a promise to the people — a commitment to improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of services while ensuring that citizens are treated with dignity.

He also said,the authority has a responsibility to provide strategic direction and oversight, ensure appropriate systems and resources are in place and promote accountability and prudent use of public resources.

But he also emphasised that justice administration is a shared responsibility.

Prosecutors, investigators, the Judiciary, correctional institutions, the legal profession, victims, witnesses and communities all have roles to play, provided each respects the constitutional and legal mandate of the institutions involved.

This means that institutional reform cannot depend solely on policy documents. It also depends on the behaviour of the people who operate the justice system every day.

Mr Phiri warned that staff conduct directly affects the reputation of the Authority because every interaction with the public can either strengthen or weaken confidence in the institution.

The launch of the Service Charter may mark an important institutional milestone, but the NPA leadership says the harder work begins after the ceremony.

Mr Phiri said the Charter's true test will be whether its commitments become part of citizens' daily experiences.

He called on NPA employees to take ownership of the Charter, measure their performance against its standards, learn from complaints, recognise good performance and address shortcomings.

That creates a different kind of relationship between a prosecution authority and the people it serves — one in which authority is matched by responsibility, independence by professionalism, and institutional power by accountability.

Ultimately, the success of the NPA's Service Charter will not be measured by the ceremony at which it was launched or the quality of the document itself.

It will be measured in the experience of the citizen who seeks justice, the victim who needs to be heard, the witness who expects protection, and the accused person who deserves a fair process.

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 Zambia Records Major Gains in PISA 2025, But Inequality and Digital Use Remain Challenges

 By Alain Kabinda | Lusaka 

Zambia has recorded significant improvements in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), with 15-year-olds posting major gains in Reading, Science and Mathematics compared to 2018. 

The results, released internationally on Monday, show Zambia’s reading score rose from 275 points in 2018 to 325 points in 2025 — a 50-point jump. Science increased from 309 to 357 points, a gain of 48 points. Mathematics also improved from the country’s previous participation in PISA for Development. 

For a country that has long ranked near the bottom of international education comparisons, the gains are being hailed as early proof that education reforms are working. 

Speaking at the launch, Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Kelvin Mambwe said the results must be used to guide policy, not filed away. 

“It is an opportunity to learn from our own data rather than learning from social media critics,” he said. 

Government has rolled out free education, recruited over 40,000 teachers, and increased investment in classrooms, school furniture, grants, school feeding and new schools.

According to PISA National Coordinator Dr. Shadreck Nkoya, more than 2.5 million additional children have entered school since free education began. 

“Rather than seeing the quality of education go down, we have seen improvement. This is not common in education,” Dr. Nkoya said. 

ECZ Executive Director Dr. Michael Chilala said the next step is to identify which interventions are driving results. Priority areas include school feeding, teacher recruitment, new learning modules from the Curriculum Development Centre, and catch-up programmes. 

Dr. Chilala said this matches Zambia’s shift to competency-based education under the 2023 Curriculum Framework, aimed at producing critical thinkers who can adapt to technology and a changing economy. 

OECD Data Manager Guillaume Bousquet noted positive attitudes among Zambian learners. Nearly 60% disagreed that intelligence is fixed, and Zambian students scored 10 percentage points above the OECD average in willingness to work harder when faced with difficult work. Concerns Over Inequality and TechnologyDespite the gains, officials warned that averages hide disparities. 

“There is a clear pathway. Inequality is one of the things we have seen. There is a lot of inequality between schools,” Dr. Nkoya said.

 Mr. Bousquet also flagged digital use. Zambian learners average almost 2 hours per day on digital devices — below the OECD average. He cautioned that the focus should be on how technology is used, especially with AI entering classrooms. 

“They must teach them how to use it responsibly — including how to verify information, recognise limitations and judge whether sources are trustworthy,” he said. 

He added that while teacher recruitment is positive, more money alone will not sustain gains without improvements in teaching, curriculum, school safety and learning time. 

The 2025 PISA results will be compared with Zambia’s 2026 National Assessment Survey to validate findings. The country is also expected to join PISA 2029 on a computer-based platform, which will provide more detailed data. 

Dr. Mambwe said the Ministry will review implications for teaching, teacher development, curriculum, assessment and school leadership. 

“We must ensure that data and evidence do not remain confined to reports,” he said.