36 Northern schools benefit from irrigation

About 36 schools in Northern Province are benefiting from the Presidential Irrigation Initiative. The initiative is aimed at providing learners with practical agricultural skills. Ministry of Education Assistant Director Alvin Masendeke says the initiative being pioneered by…

About 36 schools in Northern Province are benefiting from the Presidential Irrigation Initiative.

The initiative is aimed at providing learners with practical agricultural skills.

Ministry of Education Assistant Director Alvin Masendeke says the initiative being pioneered by President Hakainde Hichilema has been rolled out to 350 schools across the country.

Speaking in an interview with the media, soon after inspecting the implementation of the programme at Kasama College of Education Mr Masendeke disclosed that the 36 schools are spread across all districts in the province.

He said the initiative is being implemented in line with the new curriculum which demands learners to learn practical knowledge and skills in agriculture.

Mr Masendeke said the program is intended to help learners understand the processes involved in growing maize from planting to harvesting.

“We want learners to have that experience and understanding of what it takes for them to grow maize,” he said.

He added that the initiative will also provide learners with life skills that will be useful to them in future.

And Kasama College of Education Production Unit Coordinator George Simuyemba disclosed that the institution has reached 90 percent in its preparations for the Programme.

Mr Simuyemba said the institution is targeting to harvest at least 150 bags of maize.

And one of the pupils, Diana Ng’uni has thanked government for introducing the initiative.

Ms Ng’uni said the programme is giving learners more knowledge about the importance of food security in society.

She said the knowledge and skills acquired through the program will enable them to grow maize on their own in future.