The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental agency, established by the
Commonwealth Heads of Government to promote the development and sharing of innovative
approaches to the provision of learning for sustainable development. Since 1989, COL has been
carrying out research, organising capacity-building activities, experimenting with new
technologies and producing resources to support programmes of Open, Distance and Flexible
Learning (ODFL) in member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. In its Strategic
Development Plan for the period 2015-2022, COL is targeting support for extending the use of
ODFL approaches for skills development in Zambia.
Overview of Sub-Sector
Zambia is a middle-income country in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a population of 13.1 million
(2010) and a GDP per capita of less than USD 4,000 (current PPP). Responsibility for the
education and training sector has been assigned to two ministries. The Ministry of Basic
Education manages systems for early childhood care and development (ECCD), as well as
school-based education up to the completion of Grade 12. Post-secondary education and
training is overseen by the Ministry of Higher Education (MHE), with a Directorate of
Vocational Education and Training that administers funding for approximately twenty-five
semi-autonomous training institutions. The Technical Education, Vocational and
Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) was established by legislation as the national
body for setting standards, accrediting and regulating the activities of training providers in both
the public and private sectors.
COL is working with these local partners – MHE and TEVETA – to plan and deliver a series of
initiatives to build capacity at government institutions that plan to develop ODFL alternatives
to conventional face-to-face training. As of mid-2015, two of these training institutions had
been accepted as members of Innovation in Vocational Education & Skills Training (INVEST
Africa), a partnership between COL and the Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in
Africa. This document was prepared to assess the current situation with regard to the use of
ODFL by publicly-funded training institutions in Zambia, as well as to establish baseline
indicators for monitoring and evaluating the planned initiatives.
Institution-based training is one of the main avenues for Zambians to acquire recognised
qualifications in various trades and technical professions. Fewer than three hundred training
providers have been accredited by TEVETA, and about a third of these are public institutions
supported by different ministries, including MHE. Training providers are allowed to develop
their own short courses, but the curricula for formal programmes must be accredited at national
level by TEVETA to ensure standardisation in line with Zambia’s National Qualifications
Framework. Each training provider is responsible for employing its own staff complement.
Instructors are obliged to submit to accreditation by TEVETA, but concern has been expressed
about the quality of instruction available at many centres. Approximately 35,000 students were
enrolled for institution-based training in 2012, and the system produced roughly 8,000
‘graduates’ in the same year.