The Republic of Zambia has added Travel and Tourism to its High School Curriculum.
The commendable feat by the Southern African country was disclosed by Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Syakalima in his speech at the opening of Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit at the Mulungushi Conference Centre on April 15, 2024.
“I stand here, proud to be part of this Education Summit and wish to inform you that Travel and Tourism is one of the new subjects that have been introduced under the Home Economics and Hospitality Pathway at secondary school level,” Douglas Syakalima said.
According to the Minister, the new addition was in response to the call by president of Zambia, His Excellency Hakainde Hichelema, in his inaugural speech on September 10, 2021 for reform of the curriculum in order to include artisanal skills.
“Since then, my ministry has been working to ensure that the presidential directive is adhered to,” the minister said.
“Today, as I speak to you, the curriculum has been aligned to the 8NDP and it includes tourism and hospitality”.
The 8NDP, according to him, identifies Tourism and Hospitality as one of the four pillars of economic emancipation.
Hence, the introduction of the new subject in the educational curriculum, he noted would contribute to job creation, economic development and the realisation of the Vision 2030, which will see Zambia as a middle-income country.
Syakalima also noted that the role of education in any sector, especially tourism cannot be overemphasized because it bridges the gap between the demands of the tourism sector and the graduates being prepared for the sector.
However, the new subject will require designing of the syllabus, development of textbook, training of teachers who will implement the subject and all these call for human and financial resources, he noted.
The Minister of Education also commended teachers, lecturers, guidance and counselling officers and administrators present at the summit, while urging all universities and colleges of education to embrace the new subject and prepare teachers to implement it.
Making further case for tourism, the minister noted that Travel and Tourism as a subject is one of the educational cornerstones of national development because it lays foundation for the needed human capital in the industry.
