Over 300 pupils at St. Luke’s Secondary School in Mambwe District risk being released from boarding school as government has not paid their boarding school fees from Term Two and Term Three and the school has run out of food.
Anglican Diocese of Eastern Zambia Education Secretary and Vicar General Fr. Edward Zimba has told Diamond News that government owes the school over K1 million and feeding the children has become the most difficult thing.
The school has Constituency Development Fund-sponsored pupils from Mambwe Town Council, Lundazi and Chipata City Council whose fees have not been paid, making the running of the school difficult.
He says the school has accumulated debt from suppliers and those who have been helping the school are now unwilling, making it difficult for the school to run.
He says engagement with all relevant authorities has not yielded any results stating that the school has been left with no option but to release the pupils.
However, Mambwe District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Dr. Mathias Chunga says the Ministry is aware of the problem but that pupils will not be released, as his office has engaged Chieftainess Msoro who made a donation of food stuffs 3 weeks ago and working with the locals on how best the pupils can be helped with food.
Dr. Chunga says government, through the Eastern Province Education Office is also securing funds under the school feeding programme to supply to St. Luke’s Secondary School.
He acknowledged the challenge of non-payment of bursaries and urged the councils to ensure they pay once the funds are available.
By Samuel Khwawe
