SENIOR Headman Mulowa Nyama of Kapijimpanga Chiefdom in Solwezi District has thanked government for giving the underprivileged and vulnerable girls in rural areas an opportunity to go back to school through the Keeping Girls in School programme (KGS). 

ZANIS reports that the Senior Headman says this will give them an opportunity to complete their education, improve their standard of living and contribute to the economic development of the Nation.

The traditional leader notes that following the introduction of the Free Education Policy the number of girls going back to school has improved.

“From the time the government introduced the Free Education Policy, most girls have gone back to school, and with the coming of KGS, the number of school drop outs will reduce,” Senior Headman Nyama said.

Senior Headman Nyama also noted the role that the traditional leadership could play in ensuring no girls drop out of school.

He added that in his Chiefdom, traditional leaders were advocating for education adding that it was the greatest equaliser.

“We are sensitising our subjects about the importance of education, marriage can wait, what does it benefit these children to enter into marriage when they cannot afford, they should wait, the right time will come,” he said.

The Senior Headman also disclosed that having seen the benefits of being educated, he was also going back to school in grade eleven next year.

“Iam making arrangements and I am going back to school next year,” the headman said.

He lamented that the Chiefdom appreciated government efforts towards Keeping Girls in Schools adding that the myths that it was satanic have been dispelled and people are willing to follow the programme.