USAID/Zambia Director Sheryl Stumbras
(Remarks as prepared)

Honorable Minister of General Education Mr. David Mabumba
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of General Education Dr. Jobbicks Kalumba
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of General Education Dr. Jobbin Mulwanda
Provincial Minister Mr. Makebi Zulu
Your Royal Highnesses of Eastern Province and Traditional leaders present
District Commissioner for Chipata District
Mayor of Chipata
Provincial Education Officers
Other Government of the Republic of Zambia Officials
Media representatives
Colleagues, teachers, students, parents, and community members
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning.  I am honored to be here on behalf of the U.S. government, and we are proud to support the Zambia Ministry of General Education’s leadership in harnessing the power of schools and communities to improve reading for all children in Zambia. 

Literacy is at the foundation of successful national development. On an individual level, reading skills open doors to academic success from primary school to high school, and then to technical and vocational training, university, and beyond.  

Research shows that improving literacy leads to a stronger workforce, greater individual economic power, and higher earning potential. 

Improving reading skills in the early grades of primary school is one of the U.S. government’s top development priorities in Zambia.  

As you may know, the need to help Zambian children read has become more prominent and urgent.  The Examinations Council of Zambia, with help from the United States Government, has administered the Early Grade Reading Assessment in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2018. 

The 2018 assessment revealed that only about 10 percent of Grade 2 children read fluently and with comprehension.  Nevertheless, there is encouraging news. From 2010 - 2018 we have seen the number of children unable to read a single word decrease from 91 percent to 64 percent. 

We are pleased with these positive trends, we are not nearly done and we all have a lot of work ahead of us! The Ministry of General Education’s commitment to the task before us, and the U.S. partnership with the Ministry remains strong.  Together, we are working to improve the quality of basic education in Zambia.

I wish to take this moment to commend the Ministry of General Education for its vision to improve learning achievement in the early grades of primary school so Zambian children can thrive.

We are all learning from these early grade reading assessments.  We understand that improving classroom instruction is not enough. Children spend the majority of their day outside the classroom.  To become good readers, they need to practice in their homes and communities, as well. The USAID Let’s Read Project will facilitate a culture of reading in the community and the home. 

We will partner with the media to publicize the benefits of reading at home, and join with civil society and the private sector to encourage reading throughout the community.  We will support communities to generate locally owned and culturally effective ways to get Zambian children reading.

The real work, however, lies with you — leaders, teachers, mothers, fathers, guardians, grandparents, community members and of course our young children and students. 

To all community and traditional leaders — please encourage the members of your communities to take the time to read to their children, and to have their children read to them. 

To all educators — you hold Zambia’s most precious resources in your hands – our youth.  I challenge you each to impart to your students the joy and discipline of reading. It does not come easy to everyone, but it is worth the work and has lasting results.

To all the parents, grandparents, and guardians, please do your best to make sure your child has access to books and that they know how important it is to read. Try to set aside just a short amount of time aside every day to listen to your child read, read to your child, or to even share stories from your own childhood.

Finally, to all of the children, you each have the most important part to play!  Please make time after school and on the weekends to read and complete your homework assignments.  In addition, as I can tell you from my own experience as a Mother, if you want to put a huge smile on someone’s face, tell them you would like to read to them. 

Hearing you read and hearing how you are getting better overtime will be the best ending to their day.  It is also the very best investment you can make in your future. I know learning to read is not always easy. But I want to encourage you, not to give up.  If you think about what you want to be when you grow up, reading will set you on the path to realizing your dreams.

I promise, once you start to understand what you are reading, it gets easier, more fun and it will make you and your community. 

We are all counting on each of you.  Today you can become a reader and tomorrow you will become a leader in this extraordinary country.

Thank you! Zikomo Kwambili!