FQM offer corporate support to Kalumbila district

Mining Company First Quantum Minerals has declared that they are firm believers in quality education and adult literacy to show this they have donated 6,600 text books worth K117, 480 to the Ministry of General Education

The aim by the Miner is to be part of the drive to improve adult literacy levels in communities surrounding its mining operations in Kalumbila District as education is the most sustainable tool that empowers communities towards national development.

“Through our sustainability programmes we believe in supplementing government’s efforts to improve service provision and provide quality education by supporting programmes such as adult literacy. Other education interventions include provision of scholarships learning aids and other resources and infrastructure,” said Miriam Harmon FQM’s Public Relations Coordinator Miriam Harmon.

She was speaking when the company made the donation to government at Kalumbila North Primary School.

Harmon explained the long history of relationship they have had with the communities under Chief Musele’s chiefdom.

She also said the FQM’s efforts to improve education standards and advance literacy levels are framed by a broader vision of how corporate support can have the most impact.

Under its School Improvement Programme, the company is also supporting a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programme, where teachers are provided with training on modern teaching methods, including action plans on implementation.

The programme is being rolled out in 50 government and community schools in Kalumbila and Solwezi districts.

“These education materials will go a long way in ensuring Chief Musele chiefdom is enlightened and able to improve the standards of life through the education and skills that will be attained,” she said.

Kalumbila District Education Standards Officer Collins Monde also spoke at the same event and said the gesture came at the right time and will go a long way in improving acquisition and quality of knowledge.

Government attaches great importance to education, in line with the Vision 2030, which focuses on education, and indeed our own annual work plan for 2018-2020. The Ministry of Education in conjunction with the cooperating partners like Kalumbila Minerals is supporting the provision of education in the District,” said Monde.

FQM’s education package extends from early childhood education programmes, through all levels of schooling to colleges and universities.

The company has spent over US$100 million on its sustainability and community development programmes aligning its programmes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

SDG 4 aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all and encompasses FQM’s extensive education programmes at both mines in North-Western Province including the Kansanshi Quality Education Improvement Programme (KanEQuIP) support for Early Childhood Education, Solwezi Trades Training programmes and numerous school projects.

The overall objective of its socio-economic development programmes is to improve the quality of life for its employees their families and their immediate communities.

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