CHIPATA PARENTS WITHDRAW PUPILS FROM GOVT SCHOOLS DUE TO OVERCROWDING
By Samuel Khwawe
As schools are reopening for the third term, some parents in Chipata City are withdrawing their children from public schools and enrolling them to private schools due to overcrowding and lack of proper infrastructure.
Diden Tembo, a parent who has withdrawn his two children from a public school has cited overcrowding, lack of desks and less hours of learning as reasons for the decision.
He claims that teachers in public schools are unable to monitor, mark pupils and make recommendations to parents thereby affecting the quality of education being provided to the children.
And Pilgrim Private School Clerk, Phillimon Sakala says massive teacher recruitment has impacted negatively on the school compared to the free education policy.
Out of 10 teachers the school had, six were recruited by government at Pilgrim private school.
Government introduced the free education policy which has seen high enrollment levels in public schools across the country.