Within
the past ten years, the Zambian government, in accord with its principles of
democracy and liberalisation, has attempted to widen community participation
in the provision and management of education (Ministry of Education 1992:
115-119; 1996: 133-137). There were a variety of reasons for this shift of
policy, but a central reason included the realisation of the democratic right
of parents to choose the kind of education which they desired for their
children. If government would no longer be the main provider of educational
facilities, there was need to recognise more seriously, other partners,
especially the local community.
By
encouraging more community participation, the Ministry of Education proposed
School Management Boards, an answerable Parent Teachers’ Association, which
would have power to engage staff and determine the school budget. It also no
longer simply tolerated but encouraged the development of more private and
grant-aided schools.