Zambia’s President, Hakainde Hichilema, has signed into law the country’s first legislation guaranteeing free education for all children, formally entrenching a policy that has expanded access to schooling since its introduction in 2021
The new law makes free education a legal right, ensuring that no learner can be denied a place in a public school because of an inability to pay fees.
In a statement on Thursday, President Hichilema described the move as a “historic day for Zambia,” saying “the legislation secures free education for future generations and strengthens protections for workers and retirees through broader reforms contained in the same bill.”
“These reforms will improve the lives of millions of Zambians, from the classroom, to the workplace, and into retirement, while delivering greater dignity, security, and hope for our people,” President Hichilema said.
The free education policy was one of President Hichilema’s flagship commitments during the 2021 election campaign and was implemented shortly after he took office.
The policy abolished tuition fees from early childhood to secondary school, leading to a surge in enrolment, the recruitment of more than 41,000 teachers and expanded school feeding programmes.
However, until now the initiative had remained an administrative measure rather than a legal entitlement, leaving gaps in enforcement and concerns about long‑term sustainability.
By signing the bill, the government has now anchored the policy in law, giving learners and families a clear basis for redress if schools attempt to charge illegal fees.
The legislation also aims to strengthen accountability across the education system and ensure that future administrations cannot reverse the policy without parliamentary approval.
The government said that “the new law will help safeguard equity, improve literacy outcomes and support Zambia’s long‑term development goals.”
AP
