30.07.26 -Stakeholders from Government, the education sector, cooperating partners, traditional leadership, and local communities gathered in Limulunga District for the Keeping Girls in School (KGS) and Beyond Initiative 2026 Annual Academic Symposium, reaffirming Zambia’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable girls have access to quality education and opportunities to reach their full potential.
Held under the Ministry of Education, the symposium provided a platform to celebrate the achievements of the Keeping Girls in School and Beyond Initiative, reflect on lessons learnt over the past decade, and strengthen partnerships aimed at advancing girls’ education as a catalyst for national development.
Since its establishment in 2016, the Keeping Girls in School and Beyond Initiative has supported more than 257,926 vulnerable girls across 95 districts nationwide through educational bursaries and grants. The programme has enabled over 30,000 girls to complete secondary education, while more than 3,000 beneficiaries have progressed to tertiary institutions on scholarships.
To date, 150 beneficiaries have successfully completed tertiary education, demonstrating the programme’s growing impact in expanding educational opportunities for vulnerable adolescent girls.
The symposium highlighted the transformative role of the initiative in reducing barriers to education, particularly for girls from Social Cash Transfer beneficiary households.
Through sustained Government investment and collaboration with partners, thousands of girls have remained in school, improved their academic performance, and gained opportunities to pursue higher education and build productive futures.
Serving as Guest of Honour, Ms. Etambuyu Anamela Gundersen, Permanent Secretary for International Relations and Cooperation, commended the Government’s continued investment in education and human capital development. She emphasized that supporting girls’ education is fundamental to achieving inclusive national development and called on families and communities to remain united in ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to complete her education.
The symposium also heard from Western Province Permanent Secretary Simomo Akapelwa, who acknowledged the positive impact the initiative has had on communities across the province by enabling vulnerable girls to return to school without the financial burden of school fees and related educational expenses.
Acting Provincial Education Officer Peter Mpande encouraged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunities provided through the initiative, describing education as a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting sustainable development.
As Zambia marks ten years of implementing the Keeping Girls in School and Beyond Initiative, the symposium reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to expanding equitable access to education, promoting gender equality, and empowering girls to become active contributors to their families, communities, and the nation’s socio-economic development.
