Sustainability and accessibility of private schools in Zambia: experiences of low-cost private primary schools in Lusaka’s peri-urban areas
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Title
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en
Sustainability and accessibility of private schools in Zambia: experiences of low-cost private primary schools in Lusaka’s peri-urban areas
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Description
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en
Journal Article
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Creator
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Daka, Harrison
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Date
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2021-02-02T13:03:36Z
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Date Available
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2021-02-02T13:03:36Z
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Date Issued
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2018
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Abstract
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en
Primary education is the only formal type of education accessible to many young people. It is the
source of knowledge and skills required for socio-economic development at individual and
national level. Primary education is thus the foundation of further education and training (MOE,
1996). Appreciating its importance, the Zambian government introduced the Free Basic
Education Policy in 2002 (Beyani, 2013). Since then, primary education (Grade 1-7) has
remained free to promote education for all. Despite public education being free, many parents
still take their children to private schools (Tooley and Longfield, 2015). The generally perceived
quality of private over public education coupled with liberalization principles, has contributed to
the growth of private education provision in Zambia. Though, access to private education has
been traditionally a preserve of the middle class in urban areas, recent trends point to the
emergence of low-cost private primary schools in peri-urban and rural areas (Heyneman and
Stern, 2014).
Low-cost private primary schools depend on tuition fees for survival and sustenance. However,
theircontinued existence and accessibility seem unstable amid various socio-economic
constraints Zambia is facing. This paper therefore, provides a comprehensive analysis of the
sustainability and accessibility of low-cost private schools in Lusaka’s peri-urban areas.
Data were collected using a questionnaire and interview guide. Secondary data from research
findings on private schools, government documents and practice papers were used for analysis.
Findings indicated that schools experienced a decrease in student enrollments, a situation that
had been attributed to financial hardships parents were experiencing. In addition, the survival
and sustainability of many low-cost private primary schools appeared to be threatened with
financial constraints and closure if no proper measures were put in place. The study
recommended for government support of these schools by promoting an enabling operational,
regulatory and socio-economic environment for them to thrive.
Keywords: Sustainability; Accessibility; Low-Cost Primary Schools; Peri-Urban Areas.
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Identifier
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1743-9779(online)
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Language
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en
en
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Type
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en
Article