CSCQBE joins int’l Education for All campaign

BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR

Civil Society Coalition for Quality Basic Education (CSCQBE) recently joined other education coalitions from different countries in a solidarity march to press governments to allocate more resources to education sector.

The march took place in South African and coalitions and organizations from Zambia, United States, United Kingdom, Asia, Mozambique and the host South Africa attended.

The gathering was meant to press governments to improve the quality of education in the public sector.

Among others, delegates presented a memorandum on improving quality public education for all to the South African Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga.

And speaking on behalf of the local civil society, CSCQBE board chairperson Emily Banda observed that it is a big challenge for coalitions to convince governments to commit more resources the education sector.

“It is not easy to get government to commit more resources towards the education sector as the tricky part is that there will never be a politician who will never say NO! to Education. They all make promises but fulfilling them is a major challenge,” said Banda.

She, however, encouraged the coalitions to press on citing Malawi where the campaign has earned a lion share in the national budget.

“I must say there is political will in Malawi. Government has this year responded to our calls by allocating over 20 percent of the national budget towards education,” the CSCQGE board chair said.

Banda applauded President Bingu wa Mutharika who is also African Union Chairperson for leading by example by showing commitment to improve the standards of education.

Former Brazilian Coach Socrates and South African and Manchester United player Quinton Fortune were among the notable figures that attended the march.

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