The Airtel Africa Foundation has commissioned and handed over five newly constructed and refurbished schools across Zambia, reaffirming its commitment to expanding quality education and digital inclusion.
The handover ceremony was held yesterday at one of the schools in Chipata, Eastern Province. The K12 million project, implemented through Airtel Zambia in partnership with Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS), forms part of the Foundation’s flagship Adopt-A-School Programme.
The five schools are located in Chipata, Solwezi, Mongu, Mufulira and Mansa, targeting underserved rural and peri-urban communities.
Speaking at the event, Airtel Zambia Managing Director Hussam Baday said the investment reflects the Foundation’s belief that education drives socio-economic transformation.
“Our decision to invest in rural school infrastructure is deliberate. Every child, regardless of where they live, deserves access to safe, dignified, and well-equipped learning environments,” Mr. Baday said. “By investing in infrastructure, digital tools, and community partnerships, we are building opportunities for Zambia’s future generations.”
Beyond construction, the Foundation also supplied desks, computers, and digital screens to support interactive and digital learning.
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary for Education Services Dr. Kelvin Mambwe commended Airtel Zambia for complementing government efforts to improve access to quality education in rural areas.
“Government places high value on partnerships with responsible private sector organisations such as Airtel Zambia,” Dr. Mambwe said. “While we continue to invest in teacher recruitment and policy reforms, interventions in infrastructure and digital connectivity are essential to accelerating impact.”
He noted Government’s target to connect 2,500 schools to the internet by December 2026, adding that private sector collaboration will be key to achieving the goal.
Both Airtel Zambia and the Ministry of Education thanked traditional leaders and local communities for their cooperation throughout the project, stressing that community ownership will be critical to sustaining the initiative.
The project contributes to the Airtel Africa Foundation’s wider goal of positively impacting 10 million lives across Africa by 2030. The newly handed-over schools are part of a broader national school infrastructure initiative being rolled out across multiple provinces to improve learning outcomes and build more resilient communities.
