In Zambia, the school year begins in January. If you are going to request information on fees to send an SNG, it is recommended to do so in October or early November. CI requests that tuition and funds be paid the month before school starts, so they have time to transfer the funds and and the staff has time to contact the family and get everything in place for the child to be enrolled. This is especially important if the child has never attended school before, has been out of school for a year or more, or is starting a new educational chapter (college, vocational, etc.).
Children in Zambia begin school at age seven, although in some areas a preschool may be available as early as age three. Children International centers also offer Early Childhood Development classes for children ages five and six, however each SOA is only able to serve 120 children in this capacity.
There are three types of schools in Zambia (information provided by CI Sponsor Service Rep Debbie Spring):
1. Public: Accredited and teachers have certification. 24% of CI population attends. No tuition fees, but families must provide the following:
- Uniforms
- Shoes (Provided by CI)
- Books
- Supplies
- Funds for exams or other
2. Community: Not accredited. Teachers have no formal training/degree. 64% of CI population attends.
- The school is set-up by the community and each child must pay fees that include a salary for the teacher, facility upkeep, classroom supplies, books. Approximately $42 in grade school and $190 grade 8 and up.
3. Private: The best schools in the country. 12% of CI population attends because they are the only schools available to them.
- Tuition ranges from $180 for grade school to $315 for grades 8 and up.
- Uniforms
- Shoes (Provided by CI)
- Books
- Supplies
- Funds for projects, exams etc.
- Transportation
"Kids in Zambia are expected to know basic reading and writing when they begin school at age 7, as this helps them to pass the test in English to get into secondary school. Therefore, if a child attends pre-school or CI's Early Childhood program the focus is on these skills so that the kids are "up to snuff" with the more advantaged children in the country when they begin school and are able to continue their education beyond grade 6/7 too.She also shared,
Most families would prefer their children to attend the school closest to them for convenience of getting the kids to school, having them attend with siblings/cousins and because once you start a private school you really cannot come back to the local school. The child will not fit in and be seen as an outsider, so if a sponsor wants to pay for a private school it's got to be a long-term commitment. "
"There is tutoring available in Zambia, the cost depends on which compound the child lives in, what subjects and how much tutoring is needed. English is the most common tutoring subject. Tutoring is done by term and there are 3 terms in Zambia, I've seen it come in around $100, per term and go up from there."
Grade 7 pupils sit the Examination Council of Zambia examinations.
Grade 9 pupils sit the Examination Council of Zambia examinations.
Most children do not continue schooling after grade 9. Higher education in Zambia is very limited and centred on the country's six universities. Of those, the University of Zambia is the one your child would be most likely to attend, since it is located in Lusaka.
