GOVERNMENT has pledged its support for the construction of a new Catholic boarding school in Kanchibiya district, Muchinga Province.
The co-educational facility, named “Our Lady of Victories,” is envisioned to be the largest school in the province upon completion.
Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati, visited the construction site last Thursday and highlighted the project’s significance.
He committed to equipping the school with technology and internet access, fostering a strong foundation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for students in the remote area.
“When we walked around, you showed us that you are going to have a computer lab, a science lab and many more. So you will be delivering education based on science, technology, engineering and mathematics in rural parts of Zambia so that we can be able to cultivate the intellectuals from the power that resides in Kanchibiya.”
“We are going to support you. And in particular because of focusing on STEM, we will support you with perfect equipment, including computers, including connectivity to the internet. So from day one, this school will have internet so that the kids that are going to be here, can learn beyond these walls. We have wanted to be global ,” said Mutati.
The Mpika Diocese of the Catholic Church, leading the initiative, expressed its desire to make the school a grant-aided institution.
Bishop Edwin Mwansa Mulunda emphasised the importance of maintaining high standards, similar to their successful Lwitikila Girls Secondary School.
“We don’t want to compromise standards, we want to maintain our standards like that of Lwitikila girls,” he said.
The school, currently at 45 percent completion, is designed to accommodate 600 students, 30 teachers, and church staff.
While prioritising local students initially, it aims to serve the entire Muchinga Province and beyond.
Adding another dimension to the project, Alex Simumba, Director of Vocational Education and Training, proposed a two-tier education system.
He said this would incorporate vocational training alongside academic subjects, equipping students with valuable skills and fostering local community development.
“For an infrastructure like this, we cannot just leave it for academic subjects, you can consider making it a two-tire training system so that we live a bit different from the usual ways of doing business and have children that are hands on.”
“But also it will be important to have other training tools so that the children who come from here will be value creators, not just employment seekers,” remarked Simumba
The anticipated enrollment of the first grade eight class next year signifies a promising future for “Our Lady of Victories.”
This collaborative effort between the government, the Catholic Church, and the local community has the potential to become a beacon of academic and vocational excellence in Kanchibiya.
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba May 6, 2023
