Ministry Dispels Form One Crisis, Confirms All Itezhi-Tezhi Pupils Placed
The Ministry of Education has clarified that all 1,533 pupils who qualified to progress to Form One in Itezhi-Tezhi District have successfully been placed within the district, following public reports suggesting a shortage of secondary school places.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Permanent Secretary for Educational Services, Dr Kelvin Mambwe, said the Ministry acknowledged concerns over secondary school capacity but stressed that the reports did not fully reflect the current situation on the ground.
Dr Mambwe explained that the placements were achieved through targeted administrative adjustments, optimal use of existing secondary school infrastructure, the upgrading of selected primary schools to host Form One classes, and the introduction of double-session arrangements in identified high-demand areas, including Itezhi-Tezhi.
He emphasised that these measures would be implemented without disrupting learning for primary school pupils.
“The initial pressure experienced in Itezhi-Tezhi mirrors trends in districts with rapid population growth and improved transition rates following the implementation of free education,” Dr Mambwe said, adding that the situation reflects expanded access and improved progression within the education system.
He noted that Government has continued to invest heavily in education infrastructure, citing the construction of more than 40 classroom blocks in Itezhi-Tezhi District over the past two years. Additional secondary school expansion projects, he said, are under active consideration in line with national development priorities.
Dr Mambwe further disclosed that more than 120 World Bank-funded school infrastructure projects are being rolled out this year across the country.
He said the projects are expected to significantly strengthen secondary school capacity, ease congestion, stabilise Form One placements, and ensure sustainable access to secondary education, particularly in fast-growing districts.
The Ministry reiterated that Form One placement is a nationally coordinated exercise and assured the public that where temporary pressure arises, structured administrative, infrastructural and pedagogical interventions including double-session arrangements are applied to ensure uninterrupted learning.
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to providing equitable, inclusive and quality secondary education, assuring the public that current enrolment pressures are being effectively managed through a data-driven and well-resourced national expansion programme.
