From Struggle to Success: How the Catch-Up Programme Changed Agnes’s Life

By Daily News Reporter 

In a decisive move to tackle poor learning outcomes and close early education gaps, the Zambian government launched a nationwide Catch-Up Programme targeting foundational skills in literacy and numeracy among young learners in all the Ten Provinces of Zambia.

For 10-year-old Agnes Tembo, school was once a daily struggle. Sitting quietly at the back of her classroom, she often found it difficult to read simple sentences or solve basic mathematics problems, leaving her discouraged and falling behind her peers.

Speaking to Daily News in Lusaka Agnes shared her story.....

“I used to be afraid of being called to read in class,” Agnes recalls softly. “I didn’t understand many things, and I thought I was not smart.”

Agnes's story is one shared by many learners who missed out on strong foundational skills in their early years of education. But her experience began to change when her school introduced the government’s Catch-Up Programme, an initiative designed to help pupils strengthen their literacy and numeracy skills.

Through targeted lessons, simplified learning materials, and more interactive teaching methods, Agnes gradually began to regain confidence. Her teacher, trained under the programme, started giving extra attention to learners who needed additional support, ensuring no one was left behind.

“Now I can read stories on my own, and I even help my friends,” she says with a smile. “Mathematics is no longer scary.” Agnes said.

Agnes’s teacher Ms Lucy Nabwalya also explained that the programme has made a noticeable difference in the classroom.

 “We are now better equipped to identify learning gaps and address them early. The learners are more engaged, and their confidence has improved significantly,” the teacher said.

The Catch-Up Programme focuses on helping learners acquire essential reading, writing, and arithmetic skills, particularly those who may have fallen behind due to various challenges. By strengthening these foundational competencies, the initiative aims to improve overall academic performance in later grades.

Parents have also welcomed the programme, noting positive changes in their children’s attitudes toward school. Agnes’s mother said she has seen a transformation at home. 

“She now enjoys reading and even teaches her younger siblings. This programme has really helped her.” Agnes's Mother recalls.

 Such stories like Agnes’s highlight the importance of investing in foundational learning, emphasizing that early intervention is key to long-term success.

Speaking at the Catch Up Randomised Control Trial (RCT) Dissemination Meeting in Lusaka Ministry of Education Director Teacher Education and Specialised Services (TESS) Mr Nalube Sidney stated that this programme has continued to roll out across the country, it is giving hope to thousands of learners—proving that with the right support, every child has the potential to succeed.quiet classroom in rural Zambia, a young learner who once struggled to read simple sentences is now confidently following along with classmates—an outcome that reflects a much bigger national story unfolding across the country.

Mr Nalube also said that this began as a modest pilot project in 2016, reaching just 80 schools, but it has grown into one of Zambia’s most ambitious education reforms. 

So far today, the Catch-Up Programme spans nine provinces, reaching nearly one million learners in over 6,000 schools—marking a significant stride in addressing foundational learning gaps.

At the official dissemination of findings from a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) evaluating the programme, He also highlighted both the scale of progress and the importance of evidence-based decision-making in shaping the future of learning in Zambia.

Mr Nalube noted that for years, concerns have persisted about foundational learning levels among primary school learners, particularly in literacy and numeracy. The Catch-Up Programme was introduced to respond to this challenge—providing targeted teaching approaches that help learners who fall behind to regain essential skills.

Recognizing this, the Ministry of Education commissioned a Randomized Control Trial—the gold standard in evaluating educational interventions—to provide independent, rigorous evidence on what is working, what needs improvement, and what should be scaled.

The study, conducted across 273 schools in 182 education zones in Central, Southern, and Western Provinces, offered a revealing baseline of learner performance and school conditions.

The findings painted a sobering picture: many learners were still struggling with basic literacy and numeracy, reinforcing the urgency for sustained and targeted interventions.

As part of the trial, an additional component of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) was integrated into the programme.

 This “Catch-Up CPD” focused on strengthening teacher collaboration through remote support systems, enabling educators to share strategies, improve instructional methods, and better support struggling learners.

The Catch-Up Programme’s rapid expansion signals strong political will and institutional commitment. With implementation already reaching nine provinces, efforts are underway to include the Copperbelt Province—making it a fully nationwide initiative.

 And Principal Investigator in Education Andreas de Barros stated that such scale is rare for interventions targeting foundational learning, especially in developing contexts, and positions Zambia as a model for evidence-driven education reform in the region.

The success of the programme and its evaluation has been underpinned by strong collaboration between government, cooperating partners, and research teams.

At the dissemination event, the Ministry expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed to the study, emphasizing that partnerships remain central to delivering equitable and quality education.

As stakeholders gather to unpack the findings, attention is now shifting to the future—how to refine the programme, strengthen implementation, and ensure that every child acquires the basic skills needed to succeed.

The Catch-Up Programme is no longer just an intervention—it is becoming a cornerstone of Zambia’s education strategy.

And for the millions of learners it serves, it represents something even more powerful: a second chance to learn, to grow, and to build a better future.

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