CFAO Mobility, Paratus and World Vision Zambia, Hand Over Two 1x3 Classroom Blocks, Teachers’ Houses and Ablution Facility to Mphande Primary School

For Immediate Release -  Thursday, June 26, 2026, Lusaka District – CFAO Mobility Zambia and Paratus, alongside World Vision Zambia, today officially handed over key educational infrastructure to the Ministry of Education at Mphande Primary School in Chipapa Community. These include two 1x3 classroom blocks, one refurbished classroom block, two teachers’ houses, an ablution facility, 25 computers and a 1-year paid-up internet package.

The infrastructure, worth about K4,189,500 ($232,500 United States Dollars), gives close to 500 children a safer, more conducive environment for learning.

Zambia’s education sector continues to face persistent infrastructure gaps affecting learning outcomes nationwide. The Ministry of Education’s 2023 Education Statistics Bulletin recorded 110,083 permanent classrooms against a national enrolment of nearly 5.9 million learners. Since the introduction of Free Education in 2021, enrolment numbers have risen sharply, and in many schools, class sizes now exceed 100 pupils for every teacher, well above recommended standards. Net enrolment at the primary level stands at 91.8 per cent, yet thousands of children continue learning in overcrowded classrooms without adequate sanitation or housing for teachers, conditions linked directly to attendance and performance.

The new facilities at Mphande Primary School address these gaps directly. The additional classroom space eases overcrowding, the teachers’ houses support recruitment and retention of qualified staff within the Chipapa Community, and the ablution facility improves sanitation conditions for learners, particularly girls.

“Education builds the foundation on which every child shapes a future,” said Marc Nosbach, National Director, World Vision Zambia. “Today’s handover at Mphande Primary School reflects our continued commitment to working alongside partners and government to close gaps children face in accessing quality education. A safe classroom, a home for a teacher and proper sanitation together form the foundation a child needs to learn and grow.”

World Vision Zambia and CFAO have built a development relationship spanning 10 years, supporting communities across education, water, sanitation and child well-being. 

CFAO Mobility CEO Dino Bianchi said, “As AB CFAO, we are proud to have our implementation partner World Vision Zambia on this meaningful project. It is World Vision Zambia that identified Mpande School and supervised the construction phase of this project. I believe this is our 8th Project with World Vision Zambia – Thank you, Marc & World Vision Zambia Team.” 

He also expressed gratitude to Paratus Zambia for coming on board and supporting with a 1-year paid-up internet package to support the learning at Mpande School. 

Mr. Bianchi stated, “As CFAO, we firmly believe that education is a key driver of individual growth and sustainable societal development. These initiatives represent a significant step forward which goes a long way to help address longstanding challenges in rural education, including limited teaching resources and shortages of specialised teachers. On-site teacher accommodation will realise improved teacher retention and a reduction in fatigue.” 

He reiterated that educated children will help to reduce child marriages, uplift the community and thus build a stronger and more sustainable future for Zambia.

Highlighting the importance of connectivity, Mr Bianchi added, “Through digital connectivity, learners are no longer confined by geography. They can access high-quality lessons, benefit from diverse learning resources, and develop essential digital skills for the future. This initiative helps level the playing field, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed, regardless of their location. This is the power Paratus brings today”.

And Paratus Zambia Country Manager, Neill Nortje, said: “Connectivity is no longer a convenience in education, it is a basic requirement. Mphande Primary School sits well beyond the reach of fibre or mobile broadband, which made satellite the only realistic way to get reliable internet onto this campus. This Starlink donation gives the school the connectivity it needs to actually function, access to digital learning content, broadcast lessons and examination resources that were previously out of reach simply because of geography. As Zambia’s quality network and an authorised Starlink reseller, we understand better than most how much of a difference reliable connectivity makes once it reaches a community that has never had it. We are proud to stand alongside CFAO Mobility and World Vision Zambia in giving the children of Mphande that opportunity.”