| Government schools take children from the age of 7. Although they only pay £2 per year, parents also have to provide all books and stationery. Class sizes are between 40 and 50 pupils but sometimes classes have to double to 80 or more due to teacher shortages. There is a shortage of well trained teachers. More teachers are dying of Aids each year in Zambia than can be trained ! This often means that children do not learn English adequately to be able to take the public exams. Government school teachers are paid about £40 a month.
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In 1998, Pastor Sue Chapman started The King’s School in her home in Mukubela. As a fully trained teacher herself, her aim was to enable children from the rural areas to have a good Christian education to equip them to support themselves and their families. The school has its main site at Mukubela with a further infants school at Shampule. The King’s School welcomes 4 year olds into Pre-School and Reception classes with 5-17 year olds placed in Years 1 - 8 according to ability rather than age. Classes are small, with no more than 25 children. The children learn in English, which is the official language of Zambia, (there are 70 indigenous languages) but, of course, it is not their mother-tongue. The curriculum follows the UK Key Stage 1 and 2 so that the children are well prepared to take public exams, which are written in English. The children pay £20 a year (£25 above Grade 7) which includes all books, stationery and some uniform. It is customary for schools to provide a house for a teacher and his/her family which has resulted in much ongoing building work as The King’s School expands. Teachers at The King’s School are paid between £20 and £30 per month. In addition they receive a gallon of maize, housing and free education for their own children. |
 Schools |
