Source: British High Commission - Lusaka |

UK and Zambian teachers forge professional partnerships

Nine Primary Schools in the UK have formed links with Zambian schools to prepare young people for life and work in the 21st century

The partnership between UK and Zambian schools demonstrates our commitment to establish long term relationships between governments and communities in our two countries

LUSAKA, Zambia, February 17, 2017/APO/ --

Speaking at the Professional Partnership Conference for teachers under the connecting classrooms project in Lusaka today, British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, said: Access to the right kind of education is very important in ensuring our children are able to thrive in today’s globalised world. As much as core educational subjects continue to be important, the ability of our students to understand and develop softer skills will be vital to their success. The Connecting Classrooms Project is a great opportunity to share ideas and learn from each other. This visit, and the conference in Lusaka, provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the value of the Project and to consider how we can implement it more broadly in Zambia. The partnership between UK and Zambian schools demonstrates our commitment to establish long term relationships between governments and communities in our two countries.

Head teachers from nine schools in Northern Ireland, England and Wales in the UK, have forged new partnerships with nine schools in Lusaka and Kitwe to share their experiences and successes in teaching and implementing Core Skills into their respective curricula. Nyumba Yanga, Ngwelele, Ngo’mbe, Chainda, Kabulonga, Lotus, Northmead, Rokana (in Kitwe) and Libala Stage 3 Primary Schools partnership with UK schools is part of the UK-funded Connecting Classrooms project, a unique global education programme. Connecting Classrooms is run in more than 30 countries by the British Council in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID). It equips teachers with the knowledge and techniques to teach young people the skills they need to live and work in an increasingly globalised economy.

The programme enables teachers not only to teach these ‘21st century Core Skills’ to children in their classroom, but also to visit partner schools in other countries to exchange insight and ideas on how to improve teaching and learning in their schools.

The Connecting Classrooms project has enabled 23 head teachers and teachers from St Pauls Primary School in Derry, Northern Ireland; St Teresa’s Primary School in Loughmcrory, Northern Ireland; Roscavey Primary School in Omagh, Northern Ireland; McClintock Primary School in Omagh, Northern Ireland; St Columbkilles Primary School in Omagh, Northern Ireland; Brightside Primary School in Essex, England; Ysgol Cynwyd Sant in Bridgend Wales; Highfield Middle School in Northumberland, England and Greentrees Primary School from Salisbury in England to visit their partner schools in Zambia to share their experiences and successes in teaching and implementing Core Skills into their respective curricula. The visit will culminate in a conference on 17 February 2017 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka, providing a platform for their success to be widely shared. British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, said:

Speaking about their time in Zambia, Mr Sam Dennison, who is representing the UK team, said: We are excited about this professional partnership with Zambian Primary Schools. This week has shown us the potential that the students in Zambian schools have, and I know our children in the UK are really looking forward to working with their partners in Zambia”. Commenting on the visit, Headteacher from Lotus Primary School, Ms Christine Tembo said: “We’ve enjoyed building the relationship with our partners from the UK; we’ve shared our teaching experiences during the week and we expect this visit to strengthen our partnership further”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of British High Commission - Lusaka.