29 Districts in Zambia Get New School Finance System
The Ministry of Education has officially launched the rollout of the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) in 29 districts across all ten provinces of Zambia, marking a major step towards enhanced transparency and accountability in the education sector.
Speaking at the launch event held at Kasenshi Secondary School in Ndola, Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary – Administration, Ms. Noriana Muneku, described the rollout as a milestone in ensuring fiscal discipline and responsible management of education funds.
“This initiative is not merely a technological reform but a promise to the people of Zambia that every kwacha allocated to education will be managed responsibly and accountably,” Ms. Muneku said.
She added that the rollout will target 71 secondary schools in Northern, Copperbelt, Southern, and Lusaka Provinces, aligning with the Public Finance Management Act of 2018 and the PFM Reform Strategy.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted that IFMIS was already operationalised in 2023 across all provincial centres, including ten Provincial Education Offices and 13 Colleges of Education. The expansion aims to directly connect provinces and districts to the Ministry of Finance for real-time cash management, faster fund disbursement, and improved accountability.
During the event, Ms. Muneku symbolically received computers from the Ministry of Finance and distributed them to headteachers, signalling the beginning of the system’s implementation at school level.
Director of Finance, Mr. Fredrick Katulwende, explained that IFMIS is a comprehensive platform integrating budgeting, accounting, cash management, procurement, and reporting into one system. To support the rollout, the government has invested in 71 computers, 60 scanners, and 45 printers.
The initiative highlights the government’s commitment to modernising financial governance, enhancing efficiency in resource allocation, and strengthening institutional accountability.
On arrival in Ndola, Ms. Muneku met Copperbelt Minister, Hon. Elisha Matambo, reaffirming the collaborative effort driving this reform.
