THOMAS NGALA
Lusaka

THIS year’s Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show has lived up to its theme, “Fostering trade and investment”, with a range of transformative innovations on display.
The Ministry of Education stand captured attention with a yellow minibus parked strategically.
Emblazoned with the message “Turning Education into Sustainable Growth”, the vehicle has been converted into a mobile classroom, complete with a learning set-up at the back. According to assistant director and head of communications at the Ministry of Education Kunda Mando, the minibus symbolises education as a driver of sustainable development.
Speaking to the Young Mail in an interview, Ms Mando said the bus carries a powerful message: education is a catalyst for national progress. “I will give you an example of a farmer who has been farming for years using old systems. He takes his child to school, the child gets educated, and comes back to enhance farming practices so that farming is done better,” she said.
She added that education underpins progress in every sector. “What is the purpose of education if it does not translate into sustainable growth? What is education if it does not contribute to trade and investment? Everything that we do is cardinal in the sense that we invest in our children,” she said. Ms Mando’s message extended beyond the symbolism of the bus.
She highlighted major government investments aimed at ensuring every child accesses not only free, but quality education. These include the construction of schools, the school feeding programme, and the establishment of health rooms.
“We invest in so many ways because what we want is this child who comes to us at three years old to be given back to you as an engineer, as a doctor, as a journalist, as a teacher,” she said.
“For us, this theme is two-fold. It is us investing in the child, and also looking at the fact that education is the instrument used to harness and sustain trade and investment,” she said. Commenting on the new curriculum, Ms Mando described it as a game changer. “We don’t want you to finish school and nobody wants to hire you. And we don’t want you finishing school and you cannot start up your own thing.
So, we are teaching children entrepreneurship, we are teaching children financial literacy, all in our new competency-based curriculum,” she said. Ms Mando explained that the curriculum is hands-on and is being rolled out to reach learners in needy areas across the country.
“So, what we don’t want is to go to Zimbabwe to get craftsmen. We should find them right here. And it starts from the time that they are at school, where it is fun and it is a necessity,” she said. “It is a skill that a learner should naturally have. A learner should be able to rear chickens. There is no excuse for not making it in life.” She also showcased some of the innovations at the stand, including low-cost agricultural models. “So, what we are teaching – if you come to our stand, you will see these ways of agriculture using irrigation systems… using very cheap methods,” she said. “For example, there is a part where we have a fish pond underneath and on top we have a chicken run. The chicken waste goes as feed… obviously very regulated and controlled… and it becomes food for the fish.” Ms Mando said such innovations can be done within a small space and with limited financial resources.
“The ministry is teaching children that you do not have to be rich to be a success. You can work with what you have and make it happen,” she said.
The 98th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show was officially opened by Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa in Lusaka on Saturday on behalf of President Hakainde Hichilema.