UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has demanded that government should lift the suspension on Grade 7, 9 and 12 examinations before it negatively impacts the school calendar.

In a statement yesterday, Hichilema observed that leakages were a manifestation of a failed education system.

“We have noted with sadness, the suspension of Grades 7, 9 and 12 examinations by the Ministry of General Education which affects over one million pupils. These leakages are a manifestation of a failed education system. The leakages would have been avoided had we invested in the education sector per SADC standard. The education budget has been shrinking. Corruption which starts from the very top has permeated society including our education system, this is the price we are now paying. While we do not condone children involving themselves in malpractices, in turn resulting in a country full of citizens with no skills other than papers, we call on the Ministry of General Education to hasten investigations and lift the examinations suspension,” Hichilema stated.

“This suspension should not have occurred if we had serious people running the affairs of our country with a heart for an educated population. They however do not value education and that is a known fact. In the UPND, we value quality and not quantity, when it comes to education, this is why we say this failure to manage our education sector must not affect the innocent ones who have spent many months diligently revising for these important examination. This government must take responsibility and immediately lift this suspension. The longer this suspension is in effect, the more it negatively impacts the academic calendar.”

He promised that once the UPND came into office, the education system would be strengthened.

“We are aware that our country has of late not been producing credible leaders because of the failing education system but we would like to assure the Nation of an educated population once in government whose quality will contribute to the economic development. If Liberia can have free education, Zambia could also do the same,” stated Hichilema.