FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS STATEMENT
4TH JUNE, 2026
Chinsali, Muchinga Province – Muchinga Provincial Administration is pleased to announce a historic surge in pupil enrolment, directly linked to the pro-poor policies of the New Dawn Government under President Hakainde Hichilema.

Since 2021, when the administration assumed office with total enrolment at 281,329 pupils, numbers have soared to a record 379,199 pupils by 2026 a remarkable 34.8% increase of 97,870 learners.

This achievement is driven by deliberate, well-funded interventions:

1. Free Education: Abolishing all school fees from Early Childhood to Secondary level has removed the biggest barrier for vulnerable households, translating directly into full classrooms.
2. School Feeding Program: Providing a daily nutritious meal combats hunger and serves as a powerful incentive for enrolment and consistent attendance.
3. Infrastructure via CDF: Constituency Development Fund resources have constructed new schools and classroom blocks in previously underserved areas, drastically reducing travel distances, especially for girls.
4. Provision of Desks: Eliminating the indignity of sitting on floors has created a conducive learning environment, further encouraging parental support.

Notably, 2023 marked a turning point where female enrolment overtook male enrolment, a trend sustained through 2026. This underscores government’s success in keeping the girl child in school and breaking cycles of early marriage and poverty.

Under President Hichilema, free and quality education is no longer a campaign slogan but a tangible reality. The 379,199 pupils in Muchinga Province represent not mere statistics, but future professionals, innovators, and leaders. We are not just building classrooms but a prosperous Zambia, one educated child at a time.

Issued by:
(Original Copy Signed)
Ruth Mumba
Principal Public Relations Officer
MUCHINGA PROVINCE