Some children live too far from the nearest school to attend. P rimary school begins at age seven and lasts seven years. Students then write a difficult exam to find out whether they can go on to further education. After two years, they write a second exam before they can continue with the last three years of secondary education. As secondary schools have space for only a small number of students, the passing grade on these exams is high.
Children study very hard to win one of the few places.
In the past, boys often received more education than girls did. To correct this imbalance, the government has made the passing grade lower for girls. T he language of instruction is usually English, but students learn to read and write in their own languages as well. Teachers emphasize Zambian history and culture, and use Zambian textbooks when available. T o help Zambia feed itself, the government requires all schools to have a garden.