The Chingola District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Mr. Noah Simulunga, has issued a directive instructing all school head teachers to confiscate exercise books bearing political messages that have been distributed to some pupils in the district.
In an official memo addressed to all school heads, Mr. Simulunga emphasized that the presence of such books in learning institutions contravenes the Education Act and policies of good governance, which strictly prohibit political influence in schools.
“I write with concern that there are books being distributed to some pupils labelled with political messages. This cannot be allowed in our schools as it contradicts the Education Act and policies of good governance,” stated Mr. Simulunga in the circular.
He further instructed that the number of books collected from each pupil must be recorded and replaced with plain, non-branded books to ensure learning materials remain neutral and educational in nature.
The memo was also copied to the Nchanga Member of Parliament, the District Commissioner, and the Mayor of Chingola, signifying the seriousness of the matter and the need for collaborative oversight.
Education stakeholders have since commended the move, noting that schools must remain apolitical environments focused solely on academic growth and character development.
This directive comes amid growing public debate about the use of educational platforms for political visibility, with many calling for stricter monitoring to safeguard the integrity of the education system.