Education sector has enjoyed a lion’s share from the K178.8 trillion National Budget for 2019/20 financial year presented in the second meeting of the 48th session of National Assembly on Monday by the minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Joseph Mwanamveka.

The sector has been allocated with K178.8 billion, representing 2.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is an increase of 21.5 percent from the approved budget of K142.2 billion in 2018/19 financial year.

The allocation translates to a 10.6 percent of the total budget which the finance minister, in his statement, said the increase is due to “increased allocation for public universities and sector’s development projects.”

The statement said: “Under basic education, Government will complete the construction of three Teachers Training Colleges for primary school teachers in Mchinji, Rumphi, and Chikwawa, and continue the construction of fourteen new primary schools in urban centers.”

Under secondary education, Government will continue construction of Thundwe and Machinga secondary schools, construction of science laboratories and Libraries, improvement of quality science and mathematics instruction, among others.

While under higher education, Government will construct Eastern and Southern Africa Higher Education Centre of Excellence, continue construction of Mombera University and carry out expansion of Domasi College of Education, among others.

The second on the list to receive bigger share is Agriculture sector with K167 billion followed by health sector pegged at K101 billion.

2019/20 budget has been developed under the theme “Inclusive Growth and Economic Empowerment: The Future We Want.”