A problem rooted in lived experience
This problem is rooted in lived experience.
Like many families across Zambia, our founder witnessed firsthand the quiet struggle that unfolds at the beginning of every school term both as a school going child over 15 years ago and now as a parent.
Every term, parents/guardians stand at home, holding a list:
- School fees
- Uniform/books
- Exam Fees
- Books etc
- Educational Tour fees etc
They understand the value of education. They want their child to succeed. But the reality is clear, the money is not available all at once.
In Zambia, there are over 5 million school going children, yet a significant proportion face disruptions in their education each term due to financial constraints. An estimated 70% of parents and guardians earn a monthly salary that barely stretches while others run small businesses, earning a little each day. These families don't lack income, what they don't have is a large lump sum at the start of each term. They lack access to structured ways of paying for education over time.
As a result, difficult decisions are made:
- "Let the child go next week, when I have more money."
- "Let them go without a uniform, shoes or books for now."
- "Maybe the school will understand."
But often, it doesn't.
Across the country:
- Millions of students are sent home each term due to unpaid or partially paid fees
- Those that have access to free education sit in class without the books, shoes and essential supplies they need
- Others miss the critical first weeks of learning, affecting their academic progress
According to organizations such as UNICEF and World Bank, financial barriers remain one of the leading causes of irregular attendance and dropout rates in many developing education systems, including Zambia.
It's not because parents don't care.
It's not because they are irresponsible.
It's because education costs are required upfront, while household incomes are earned gradually.
Until this gap is addressed, families will continue to struggle, schools will continue to lose valuable learning time, and children will continue to fall behind, not because they lack potential, but because the system does not align with their reality.