2024.01.29
On January 25, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a grant agreement with the Government of the Republic of Zambia in Lusaka, the capital, to provide grant aid of up to 1,644 million yen for the Project for the Enhancement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education.
The promotion of practical research and development in the field of STEM, which is a cross-disciplinary study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, plays an important role in Zambia’s national strategy for industrial diversification. On the other hand, many students who have completed compulsory education lack sufficient basic academic skills, and a academic-ability survey, implemented in 2021, targeting the Southeastern African region revealed a low competency in science and mathematics-related subjects, including arithmetic. The reason for this insufficiency is that human resource development in this field has not been fully realized. In addition, the dropout rate for girls in secondary education is particularly high, due to a lack of schools with the necessary learning environment for female students. Expanding educational opportunities for girls is thus another important issue.
Signing ceremony
This project targets schools that have been selected as STEM-promoting schools in Zambia, providing equipment—such as that used for scientific experiments—and building facilities, as well as constructing girls' dormitories in order to create environments conducive to their learning. In doing so, it will contribute to improving the access to and quality of science and mathematics education in Zambia, including for female students, and to the achievement of SDGs Goals 4 (Quality education) and 5 (Gender equality).
Details for the project are provided below.
| Country | Republic of Zambia |
|---|---|
| Project title | The Project for the Enhancement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education |
| Maximum grant amount | 1,644 million yen |
| Planned implementation period | 41 months, including detailed design work and the bidding period |
| Executing agency |
Ministry of Education National Science Center (NSC) |
| Target region | 10 provinces (Central, Copperbelt, Lusaka, Southern, Eastern, Luapula, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Western) |
| Specific project details (provisional) |
1. Facility improvements/equipment procurement [Facilities] STEM secondary schools (3 schools targeted): expansion of specific classroom buildings (science labs, ICT rooms, etc.) and girls' dormitories. [Equipment] STEM secondary schools (10 schools, including the 3 schools mentioned above) and the NSC headquarters' laboratory building: provision of equipment for scientific experiments, ICT equipment (including on-campus communication equipment), equipment for technical training, etc. 2. Consulting services Detailed design work, bidding assistance, construction/procurement supervision. |
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