Objeto y finalidad de la regulación

The Zambian economy has gone through thick and thin over the years. A few years after Zambia got its independence, it was among the wealthiest countries in Africa when copper was doing well at the international market. The economy started declining in 1972 during the economy crisis when copper prices started falling at the international market and the oil prices started rising. In order to sustain the economy, the country was forced into borrowing heavily. In 1980s, the government undertook some reforms including the attempt to implement Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) between 1983 and 1985. These were later abandoned as they did not yield the expected results. Despite the government undertaking some reforms, the economy continued to decline while the poverty level was rising and the

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debt was swelling. The new government was therefore forced to accept the IMF/World Bank’s proposed SAPs once again in the 1990s. This led to the introduction of liberal economic policies with the private sector playing a key role in running of the economy while the government had to cut the expenditure to the public sector. The new policy measure also failed to yield positive results.

In the face of economic struggle, the government has strived to improve the economy for the betterment of its citizens. In recent years the country has scored some success in the economy. CSO (2012) reports that in 2010 the country recorded a real GDP growth of 7.6 percent which is the highest level recorded since 1972. The CSO further reports that between the year 2000 and 2010 the annual inflation rate declined from 30.1 percent to 7.9 percent. The country’s economy is divided in various sectors which include the mining, agriculture, construction, transport and communication sectors. Copper is the major export commodity for the country. Despite the economic struggles, Zambia remains one of the countries in southern Africa endowed with rich natural resources such as copper, emeralds, zinc, lead and cobalt. The country also boasts of some of nature's best wildlife and game reserves which are a source of tourism.

Although there has been a slight improvement in the economy, poverty levels in the country still remain high with the majority of the population living in poverty. 60.5% of the Zambian population fall below the poverty line with 42.3% of them living in extreme poverty(CSO, 2012). The poverty levels are higher among the rural population. The 2010 National census estimated that 77.9 % of rural population are living in extreme poverty compared to 27.5 % of the urban population (ibid).

With the high level of poverty in the country, the levels of unemployment have also remains high. A very small proportion of the population is in formal employment. The majority of the population are in informal sector and depend on agriculture, service and sales occupation for their livelihood. The people’s livelihood in rural areas is skewed towards agriculture while in the urban areas people depend more on sales and service occupation; small business of selling food stuff in local markets , electrical and hardware, groceries and working as maids. Amidst high level of poverty and unemployment, HIV and AIDS remain the country's most significant public health challenge. Until 1984, AIDS was unknown to the Zambian population. Since then, the country has seen a rapid rise in the number HIV cases. CSO (2005) estimates that in 1985, 0.8% Zambians were living with HIV and the WHO (2011)

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recently reported that 14% of the adult Zambians are living with HIV and AIDS. The high prevalence level of HIV and AIDS are skewed towards the urban areas with WHO further reporting that 20% of the urban population has HIV and AIDS compared to 10 % of the rural population.

Not only is HIV and AIDS a national public health challenge but also a cause of orphanhood among children in the country and its impact cannot be overemphasised. Reports indicate that Zambia is currently facing the challenges of caring for 1.3 million orphans aged between 0 to 17 years of age ( UNICEF, 2009 cited in Kirkpatrick, Rojjanasrirat, South, Sindt, & Williams, 2012). Besides, WHO (2011) reports that Zambia has the highest number of orphans and vulnerable children in Africa and 50 % of the 1.3 million orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) are due to HIV and AIDS. The unfortunate part is that most of these children are left in the hands of impoverished grandparents who cannot afford to take them to fee paying schools, offer them better nutrition, thus limiting their opportunities for school and other life opportunities.

Education is highly valued among the citizens in Zambia because of the role it plays in transforming people’s lives. This is evident for families that afford to take their children to colleges and universities. The government has strived to improve the education levels in the country, which is demonstrated in the reforms undertaken in line with the international treaties and rights conventions. For instance, the current education Act of 2011 provides for the provision of free basic education. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is the main provider of all formal education in the country. It is guided by the education policy of 1996 ‘Educating Our Future’ which has over the years been amendments to improve the provision of education to the Zambian citizens. ZANEC (2012) reports that in 2002 the government declared free primary education for grades 1-7 which is in line with the Jomtien and Dakar Framework for Action on Education For All (EFA) goals.

The reforms in education sectors have made some impact in improving the literacy levels in the country. CSO (2012) reported in the 2010 national population census that the national literacy rate were standing at 70.2 %. However, there were variations between rural and urban areas with the urban areas (83.8%) having higher literacy rates compared to the rural areas (60.5%). Men (73.2%) also remain a more literate group compared to women (67.3%). Despite statistics showing 70.2% national literacy rates, the level of school attendance among of the population aged 5 years and older still remain low. Reports indicate that only 34.2 %

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reported of the children aged 5 years and older are attending school. Furthermore, by 2010, the national net primary and secondary school attendance rates were 71.6% and 45.5 %, respectively. Rural areas record lower primary school attendance rates compared to urban areas (66.9 % and 79.6%, respectively ) (CSO, 2012).

Early childhood learning in Zambia emphasise the education aspect as reflected in the education policy document and sixth National development plan. Zambia being a signatory to the children rights conventions, acknowledges that early childhood learning is a right. It is undeniable that the government acknowledges the importance of ECCD. ZANEC (2013). reports that ECCD remained particularly visible in the national planning documents and the Ministry of Education strategic plans and annual work plans since 2004. In the education Act of 2011, the government recognizes that “every person has a right to, enter alia, early childhood care, development and education” (ZANEC, 2013 p.7). However, the situation of ECCD in the country leaves a lot to be desired. Despite the improved participation rate of 6% reported in 1999 (Akinware, 2000) and the 17% reported in 2010 (UNESCO, 2010 cited in Zuilkowski et al., 2012) the levels of ECCD participation remain very low in the country. In addition, there is no policy framework for ECCD and the current education policy does not commit government to providing ECCD services. Consequently, the performance of the ECCD subsector has remained rather dismal on account of among other things, poor coordination and absence of policy framework (ZANEC, 2013). Furthermore, ECCD in Zambia is poorly provided and those who are managing to provide it, the quality of the service is still poor and low and the learning environment and curriculum often inappropriate and inadequate (Matafwali, 2007; ZANEC, 2012; Zuilkowski et al., 2012)