The school, which has about 200 children in seven different grades, educates children of farm workers in a commercial farming area. Since English is the official language of Zambia, all subjects, except those involving learning of indigenous languages, are taught in English. Similar to schools in the USA, children in Mazabuka study English, arithmetic, science, social studies, and physical education. For many Mazabuka children, however, English is the second or third language. Consequently they must work extra hard to do well in school.
Educational requirements are strict.
By fifth grade, they must be able to stand in front of a group and read from a book and tell a story. To move from seventh to eighth grade and be able to attend either a vocational school or college preparatory school, all children must first pass an exam, which is not easy. If they don't get educated, it's practically impossible to get out of the trap. The government does what it can to promote education, but funds are low and the number of public school teachers has been reduced. Books are expensive and limited, and children often have to share.