Paying for children's schooling in Zambia despite free education
In Zambia, the free education policy launched in 2022 abolished tuition fees in public primary and secondary schools, but families still pay for uniforms, supplies, boarding or private schools, often through payroll loans, group savings or microfinance.
Free schooling in Zambia since 2022
Since January 2022, the Zambian government has abolished tuition fees in public primary and secondary schools and recruited thousands of teachers. Enrolment has risen sharply in schools across Lusaka and the provinces as a result of the policy.
Costs still borne by families
Uniforms, shoes, exercise books, transport, meals and sometimes parent association contributions are still paid in kwacha. The January term start, right after the holidays, concentrates these costs and pushes many Zambian households towards short-term borrowing.
Public boarding schools and boarding fees
Public secondary boarding schools, numerous in the provinces, may ask for contributions towards accommodation, food and upkeep. Amounts vary from school to school and should be checked with the administration before taking out any loan.
Private schools in Lusaka and the Copperbelt
Private and international schools in Lusaka, Ndola or Kitwe charge termly fees that can be high, sometimes linked to the dollar. These fees are not covered by free education and are the main reason families take out school loans.
Payroll loans for school fees
Many Zambian civil servants take out a PMEC payroll loan before the new term. The deduction is added to existing ones, so take-home pay on the payslip must be checked carefully before making any new application.
Paying a Zambian private school in instalments
Several Zambian private schools accept fees in instalments each term or monthly, often by transfer or MTN MoMo. This avoids interest altogether if it is agreed in writing before the January start of the school year.
Chilimba and village banking for the new term
Families often schedule their chilimba turn or the village banking share-out for December to cover the January term start. These collective savings schemes are described on our page about peer-to-peer lending in Zambia.
Microcredit for parents who trade
Market traders without a payslip sometimes get a small MFI loan at the start of the school year. Weekly repayments need to remain compatible with takings, which are often lower in January than in other months.
Bursaries and support for vulnerable pupils
Public programmes and NGOs provide uniforms or support to orphans and vulnerable pupils, notably through social welfare. Schools and district social services direct families towards these schemes when they cannot cover the costs.
After Grade 12: moving on to HELSB
After Grade 12, higher education follows different rules, with the public loans and bursaries presented in our guide to the student loan in Zambia, intended for public universities such as UNZA and Copperbelt University.
Mobile nano-loans at the start of term
In January, MTN MoMo and Airtel Money nano-loans are often used to buy supplies and shoes. Handy for small amounts, they become expensive if they are rolled over several times during the first term of the school year.
Regional practices compared
Zimbabwean families face different costs and rules, as our page on school fees loans in Zimbabwe explains, whereas in Zambia free education has shifted family borrowing towards private schools, boarding costs and school equipment.
Planning the back-to-school budget in Zambia
- List each child's real costs in kwacha: uniform, supplies, transport, boarding or private school fees.
- Ask the private school or boarding school for a written instalment payment schedule.
- Schedule a chilimba turn or the village banking share-out for December.
- If a loan is still needed, compare the total cost of a payroll loan, an MFI loan and a mobile nano-loan.
- Keep every payment receipt issued by the school to avoid disputes during the year.
What Zambian families still pay for
| Item | Covered by free education? | What changes the amount |
|---|---|---|
| Public tuition fees | Abolished since 2022 | Not applicable in public schools |
| Uniforms and supplies | No | School level and school requirements |
| Public boarding | Contributions possible | School, province and services included |
| Private schools | No | School, curriculum and dollar indexation |
| Transport and meals | No | Distance and town |
Documents to finance schooling in Zambia
- Parent's NRC card
- Payslip or MTN MoMo and Airtel Money statements
- School invoice or fees letter
- Child's birth certificate
- Proof of address
Frequent mistakes with school fees loans in Zambia
- Borrowing for public tuition fees that no longer exist since 2022, on the strength of incorrect information.
- Paying fees to a fake agent promising a place at a well-known public school in Lusaka.
- Taking one mobile nano-loan after another in January, then paying extension fees throughout the term.
- Adding a PMEC payroll loan without calculating the take-home pay left for household needs.
- Paying a private school in cash without a receipt, which makes it impossible to prove payment if there is a dispute.
Lenders to contact
- Stanbic Bank Zambia: Zambian commercial bank of the Standard Bank group offering home loans, vehicle finance and cash advance products to personal customers.
- Stanbic Bank Zambia: Zambian commercial bank in the Standard Bank group offering individuals personal loans, home loans and vehicle finance solutions.
- Absa Bank Zambia: Zambian commercial bank providing borrowing solutions to individuals, including a mortgage loan offering longer repayment periods for home buyers.
Zambian parents' questions about paying for school
Is public school completely free in Zambia?
Tuition fees have been abolished in public schools since 2022, but families still pay for uniforms, supplies, transport and sometimes boarding contributions. The cost of the new term therefore remains real, especially with several children.
Do Zambian banks offer a dedicated school loan?
Some banks market back-to-school loans, but these are usually personal payroll loans. The conditions depend on the salary paid into the bank, not on the child's profile or the school.
Can private school fees be negotiated?
The amount is rarely negotiable, but many private schools accept payment in instalments or offer a sibling discount. Ask before the term begins and get the agreement in writing.
Is chilimba a good fit for the new school term?
Yes, if members are reliable and the parent's turn falls in December or January. It is interest-free saving, but a defaulting member can delay the pot intended for the fees.