ZAMBIA-CHINA EDUCATION TALKS EMPHASIZE DIGITAL LEARNING AND EXCHANGE KNOWLEDGE

The Minister of Education, Honourable Douglas Syakalima, and the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Mr. Han Jing, have met to advance collaboration in education, with a strong emphasis on knowledge sharing, innovation, and digital learning.
The discussions, held at the Chinese Embassy in Lusaka, were supported by the presence of the Permanent Secretary-Educational Services, Dr. Kelvin Mambwe, who stood alongside Honourable Syakalima’s to outline Zambia’s education reform agenda.
The meeting opened with gratitude for China’s sustained support to Zambia’s education sector.
Mr. Syakalima highlighted the country’s ongoing reforms under the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), designed to align education with industrialisation, digital transformation, and human capital development. He noted that Zambia has benefitted from China’s scholarship programs, short- and long-term training initiatives, and the broader capacity-building opportunities that extend beyond traditional student exchanges.
“Our government is implementing major reforms to ensure our education system contributes to digital inclusion and to the development of skilled professionals who can drive the country’s social and economic transformation,” the minister said.
He cited current statistics: 56 Zambian students studying in China on government scholarships, with 8 new scholarship slots allocated for 2025—targeting undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs. He also highlighted that nearly 4,000 Zambians are pursuing studies in China across critical sectors such as medicine, engineering, agriculture, information technology, and education.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kelvin Mambwe added a note of appreciation for ongoing collaboration, commending China’s role in knowledge sharing and innovation.
“We value the partnership beyond scholarships,” he stated.
He pointed to the extensive capacity-building programs in civil service, business, academia, and media.
Dr. Mambwe also acknowledged the Confucius Institute at the University of Zambia for its role in promoting Chinese language and culture to more than 10,000 Zambians, a link he described as strengthening both cultural understanding and commercial ties.
Ambassador Han Jing, responding to the remarks, reaffirmed China’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Zambia.
“Education as a central pillar for achieving shared development goals, so this demonstrates China’s readiness to support Zambia’s digital education initiatives, including the creation of smart education laboratories, expanded scholarship opportunities, and the modernization of school infrastructure,” Mr. Jing said.
He further underscored the importance of knowledge transfer and sustainable capacity-building as essential ingredients for long-term success.
Both sides signalled openness to a broader partnership framework, moving beyond a traditional donor-recipient dynamic toward a mutually beneficial alliance grounded in mutual respect and shared priorities. The discussion also touched on opportunities arising from China’s broader Africa-focused commitments, including potential access to concessional funding, grants, and targeted technical assistance to advance Zambia’s digital education landscape.
Before concluding the talks, the Minister indicated Zambia’s intention to participate in upcoming digital education forums in China and expressed confidence that the collaboration would yield tangible programmes benefiting both nations.