A headman in Kapijimpanga Village in Solwezi District, Benson Kifimbo says the free education policy has helped to improve literacy levels among youths in the community.

Mr Kifimbo says free education could not come at a better time when people understand the importance of education.

He told ZANIS in an interview that before the introduction of free education parents struggled to educate their children but the narrative has now changed.

The headman stated that the challenges that parents faced in taking their children to school especially in rural communities has been addressed by the policy.

“Most of our parents could not afford to take their children to school due to lack of financial muscle,” he said.

The traditional leader noted that with the coming of free education, children in his area are now able to read and write hence called on parents to take advantage of the opportunity by taking their children to school.

” Don’t be left behind, take your children to school and give them an opportunity to attain an education,” he said.

The traditional leader said the government has not only introduced free education for primary and secondary schools but has further introduced bursaries for skills development.

He explained that the initiative has seen youths being empowered with life changing skills that will help them venture into businesses.

“Government is not able to employ everyone, hence the initiative to empower others with skills will help them become self-employed and create employment for others,” he said.

Mr Kifimbo has commended government through the Ministry of Education for its commitment to promoting free education across the country.

He has since called on stakeholders to supplement government’s efforts of promoting free education by constructing more classrooms to help reduce overcrowding especially in rural communities.