Africa-Press – Zambia. In a move described as historic, the President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, signed new legislation that enshrines free education as a legal right for all children, transforming a policy that has been administrative since 2021 into a constitutional commitment that promotes social justice and ensures that no child is denied education due to poverty. This opens the door for broader reforms in the Zambian state structure and its developmental future.
Will Zambia’s new law succeed in establishing free education and ensuring educational equity?
The new law makes free education a legal right, ensuring that no learner is denied a place in a public school due to an inability to pay fees.
In a statement, President Hichilema described this step as a “historic day for Zambia,” stating that the legislation guarantees free education for future generations and enhances protections for workers and retirees through broader reforms included in the same bill.
Hichilema said, “These reforms will improve the lives of millions of Zambians, from classrooms to workplaces and even retirement, providing greater dignity, security, and hope for our people.”
Free education was one of Hichilema’s key commitments during the 2021 election campaign and was implemented shortly after he took office.
This policy led to the elimination of tuition fees from early childhood through secondary education, resulting in a significant increase in enrollment, the hiring of over 41,000 teachers, and the expansion of school feeding programs.
However, until now, the initiative remained an administrative measure rather than a legal right, leading to gaps in implementation and concerns about long-term sustainability.
By signing the bill, the government has now enshrined the policy in law, providing learners and families with a clear basis for redress if schools attempt to impose illegal fees.
The legislation also aims to enhance accountability throughout the education system and ensure that future administrations cannot reverse the policy without parliamentary approval.
The government states that the new law will help protect equality, improve literacy outcomes, and support long-term development goals in Zambia.
