Press Releases
Progress at Chibengelele Community School in Chongwe Impresses Visitors from U.S. Embassy
October 11, 2007. Lusaka
Lusaka - Mr. Michael Koplovsky, the Chargé d’Affairs of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Lusaka, today visited Chibengelele Community School in Chongwe District, where he observed an Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) lesson and donated books. The visit underscores the U.S. Government’s commitment to improving the quality of education in Zambia. The project is implemented by the Quality Education Services Through Technology (QUESTT) project, and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This assistance from the American people is a direct investment in Zambia’s future.
Since 2001, over 300,000 children have benefited through the enormously popular IRI radio program, “Learning at Taonga Market,” created for children outside conventional government schools. This year, over $2 million went towards making “Learning at Taonga Market” available in all schools in Zambia. The program is now heard by more than 100,000 students in over 1,000 community schools.
Chibengelele Community School started as an IRI pilot center in 2000 for children from six villages, all too far away from the nearest government school. The first class was conducted under a tree, with two teachers and 39 learners. It has grown to four teachers and 169 learners through grade 6.
Addressing the school children, parents, teachers and community leaders, Mr. Koplovsky said: “It’s fitting that I should be here at Chibengelele. When I heard about the interactive radio project, I wanted to see it for myself. Your school was one of the first community schools to pilot interactive radio broadcasts. Over the course of seven years, you’ve provided education to many children who would otherwise have gone without education. Your school serves as a shining example of this innovative education strategy. You are changing and improving lives here.”
USAID, through QUESTT, has also provided $300,000 to support income generation activities in community schools and $45,000 to provide reading books to improve literacy.
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