Big investment in schools

At independence, Zambia had an extremely poor education system.  Less than 0.5 percent of the population completed primary education.  Since then, the country has invested heavily in schools.

Compulsory education begins at seven years of age and carries on for seven years.  Three-quarters of young people (aged 15-24) are literate.

Over 95 percent of children are enrolled at primary school, although attendance rates are lower at around 80 percent.

At the end of primary school, children sit an exam to enter secondary education divided into two phases: the first lasting two years and the second lasting three years.

Fifty percent of boys and just over 40 percent of girls enrol at secondary school.

Mining sector key for jobs

Many jobs in the country revolve around the mining sector.  The two public universities therefore offer five-year courses in engineering and subjects such as natural sciences and ‘Mines and mineral studies’.

The University of Zambia is in Lusaka and the newer ‘Copperbelt University’ is located at Kitwe.

Agriculture is also an important economic activity in Zambia, as is fishing along the country’s rivers and lakes.

In the man-made lake created by the dam at Kariba, kapenta (small sardine-like fish) were introduced on commercial grounds and fishing at Lake Kariba is now a local industry.