NUPPEZ Executive President Mr. Victor Muyumba raises red flag over MoE blanket late-coming policy

By Derrick Sinjela

National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia (NUPPEZ) Executive President Mr. Victor Muyumba has taken note of the statement issued by the Ministry of Education (MoE) through its Principal Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Clive Kalunga directing school administrators countrywide not to send away pupils who report late for school.

From the outset, Mr. Muyumba noted that NUPPEZ as a union representing educators across public and private schools in Zambia, back government’s commitment to ensuring access to education for all learners.

In a Sunday 15th February, 2026 Press Statement issued in Lusaka, Zambia, Mr. Muyumba reiterated that education is a fundamental right, and no child should be precluded learning opportunities due to circumstances beyond their individual control.

However, while NUPPEZ acknowledges the spirit behind the directive, Muyumba wants MoE authorities to provide clear guidelines practical implementation requires. “NUPPEZ believes that pupils who report late should not be sent away but should instead be subjected to appropriate corrective measures apart from corporal punishment, administered after class hours. This approach balances access to education with the need to maintain order and structure within schools. NUPPEZ is concerned that a blanket directive, if not well clarified, may unintentionally promote indiscipline among learners. Without firm and consistent measures, some pupils may begin reporting at any time they feel like, undermining punctuality, disrupting lessons, and negatively affecting academic performance,” advised Muyumba.

Muyumba says as schools operate on structured timetables that ensure effective teaching and learning, chronic late-coming may disrupt concentration by the ‘individual learner’ ,teachers and fellow pupils.
“Therefore, NUPPEZ calls upon the Ministry of Education to provide comprehensive guidelines. If not well looked into, this directive may inadvertently result in increased indiscipline among learners, which would undermine the very objective of improving educational standards in Zambia,” Muyumba noted.

Muyumba says NUPPEZ strongly believes that access to education must go hand in hand with discipline, responsibility, and respect for school regulations.
“NUPPEZ remain committed to working collaboratively with the Ministry of Education to safeguard both the right to education and the integrity of our school systems,” pledged Muyumba. Zambia has 116 districts spread in ten (10) provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern and Western.

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NUPPEZ raises red flag over blanket late-coming policy

Sunday 15th February, 2026 Press Statement

National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia (NUPPEZ) has taken note of the statement issued by the Ministry of Education through its Principal Public Relations Officer, Clive Kalunga, directing school administrators not to send away pupils who report late for school.

As a union representing educators across public and private schools in Zambia, we fully support government’s commitment to ensuring access to education for all learners. Education is a fundamental right, and no child should be denied learning opportunities due to circumstances beyond their control.

However, while we acknowledge the spirit behind the directive, we wish to state that practical implementation requires clear guidelines. NUPPEZ believes that pupils who report late should not be sent away but should instead be subjected to appropriate corrective measures apart from corporal punishment, administered after class hours. This approach balances access to education with the need to maintain order and structure within schools.

The Union is concerned that a blanket directive, if not well clarified, may unintentionally promote indiscipline among learners. Without firm and consistent measures, some pupils may begin reporting at any time they feel like, undermining punctuality, disrupting lessons, and negatively affecting academic performance.

Schools operate on structured timetables that ensure effective teaching and learning. Chronic late-coming disrupts not only the individual learner but also teachers and fellow pupils.

Therefore, NUPPEZ calls upon the Ministry of Education to provide comprehensive guidelines. If not well looked into, this directive may inadvertently result in increased indiscipline among learners, which would undermine the very objective of improving educational standards in our country.

The Union, strongly believes that access to education must go hand in hand with discipline, responsibility, and respect for school regulations.

NUPPEZ remain committed to working collaboratively with the Ministry of Education to safeguard both the right to education and the integrity of our school systems.

Issued by
Victor Muyumba (Mr.)
National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia (NUPPEZ) Executive President