Republic of Zambia Ministry of Education
Grow Zambia Agenda · Production Units & Practical Learning
Grow Zambia Agenda

Grow Zambia Learn Through Production.
Produce Through Learning.

The Ministry of Education is repositioning every school and college as a centre of practical production, enterprise and innovation — linking classroom theory to real outputs, real skills and real income under the Grow Zambia Agenda.

11,000+ Schools Involved
116 Districts
6 Thematic Areas
2M+ Learners
Maize
Kalonga High School · Chirundu
Recorded 2.4 MT maize harvest from 1ha PU plot
2 min ago
Workshop
Chirundu Community School · Chirundu
Produced 48 desks for local primary schools
18 min ago
Retail
Lusitu Primary School · Chirundu
Twinning partnership signed with local farmers co-op
1 hr ago
Hospitality
Pambazana Secondary · Chirundu
Fish pond stocking completed — 500 fingerlings
2 hrs ago
Vision Vision 2030 NDP 8th National Development Plan Curriculum Competence-Based Curriculum SDG SDG 2 · Zero Hunger Grow Grow Zambia Agenda Climate Climate Action Plan Constitution Constitution · National Values SDG SDG 4 · Quality Education Vision Vision 2030 NDP 8th National Development Plan Curriculum Competence-Based Curriculum SDG SDG 2 · Zero Hunger Grow Grow Zambia Agenda Climate Climate Action Plan Constitution Constitution · National Values SDG SDG 4 · Quality Education
Background & Purpose

Why Production Units

The Grow Zambia Agenda places production and productivity at the centre of national economic transformation. Schools have a critical role: equipping learners with practical skills, creativity, problem-solving and enterprise thinking.

Primary Purpose is Educational

Production units are primarily for learning and skills development. Schools are not directed to abandon their core educational mandate or to operate as commercial businesses.

  • Complement teaching and learning
  • Provide practical experiences
  • Develop skills, creativity and teamwork

Linking Production to Curriculum

Schools must deliberately link production units to the curriculum. Learners in metalwork, carpentry, agriculture, tailoring, ICT and related subjects should apply classroom knowledge through real fabrication, projects and production.

  • Apply classroom knowledge to real projects
  • Learn by doing — ideas become products
  • Understand quality, costs and value addition

Complementing Teaching

Units complement teaching by giving learners practical experience in skills, creativity, teamwork, responsibility, entrepreneurship and problem-solving.

  • Entrepreneurship and enterprise thinking
  • Responsibility and resource management
  • Problem-solving in real contexts

Learning by Doing

Emphasis is on learning by doing: how ideas become products or services, how quality is maintained, how resources and costs are managed, and how value is added.

  • Ideas translated into products
  • Quality maintenance and resource management
  • Costs, markets and value addition
Policy Taxonomy

Thematic Areas of Production Unit

Every Production Unit falls under one of six national thematic areas — each with its own strategy, programmes and aggregated national KPIs from 11,000+ schools.

Agriculture

Crop Crop Production Livestock Livestock Fish Aquaculture Mushroom Mushroom Growing Forestry Forestry & Beekeeping
KPI: National Aggregated Statistics
3,200+
Functional Fish Ponds
28,000+ MT
Annual Production
12,000+
Poultry Units
8,400+
Beekeeping Ventures
What schools can do: Establish a 1ha maize plot, start a poultry unit, or stock a fish pond — linking directly to Agriculture Science, Biology and Business Studies.

Design & Technology

Engineering Raw Materials Processing Fashion Food & Fashion Technology Systems Associated Systems
KPI: National Aggregated Statistics
45,000+
Desks Produced
28,000+
Uniforms Tailored
1,800+
Workshops Equipped
950+
Catering Units
What schools can do: Set up a carpentry bench, metal fabrication workshop, tailoring unit, or food processing kitchen — applying Design & Technology, Maths and Science.

Wholesale & Retail

Retail Wholesale & Retail Enterprise Twinning Twinning Linkages
KPI: National Aggregated Statistics
6,200+
Twinning Partnerships
14,000+
School Tuck-Shops
2,800+
Distribution Channels
K42M+
Institutional Income
What schools can do: Open a school tuck-shop, trade produce with neighbouring schools, or twin with a school in another district — linking to Commerce and Business Studies.

Tourism & Hospitality

Lodging Lodging & Catering Internet Internet Facilities Recreation Recreation & Museums
KPI: National Aggregated Statistics
850+
Lodging Facilities
2,100+
Internet Cafés
3,400+
Botanical Gardens
600+
Heritage Sites
What schools can do: Operate a school catering service, maintain a botanical garden, or run a small internet café — linking to Hospitality, ICT and Geography.

Transport

Land Land Transport Water Water Transport Research Research & Marketing
KPI: National Aggregated Statistics
1,200+
School Bus Services
4,500+
Bicycle Schemes
380+
Boat Services
8,900+
Delivery Routes
What schools can do: Operate a school bus service, bicycle delivery scheme, or boat transport for riverine schools — linking to Commerce, Logistics and Geography.

Real Estate

RealEstate Real Estate Ventures Research Research & Marketing
KPI: National Aggregated Statistics
2,800+
Teacher Housing
1,400+
Community Halls
K28M+
Rental Income
35%
Cost Recovery
What schools can do: Rent out school hall for community events, maintain teacher housing, or develop a small conference facility — linking to Business Studies and Maths.
Accountability Mechanism

The Reporting Hierarchy

A concrete, time-bound reporting chain from every school to the Ministry — this is how Grow Zambia becomes real.

Reporting Flow

Data flows from the school level up to the national level, ensuring that every Production Unit activity is captured, consolidated and reported accurately.

  • Schools submit to DEBS by 15 October
  • DEBS consolidate to PEO by 31 October
  • PEOs submit to Ministry by 15 November
  • Quarterly progress reports thereafter
National Level Ministry of Education · Directorate of Educational Services
Provincial Level Provincial Education Officers (PEOs)
District Level District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS)
Zone Level Zonal Education Support Teams (ZEST)
School Level Heads of Schools · PU Coordinators
Reporting
Quarterly Reports
Monitoring
Field Visits
Evaluation
Impact Assessment
Expos
Field Days

Roles & Responsibilities

Each level has defined responsibilities to ensure effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Production Units.

  • Schools: Implement, record and report PU activities
  • Zones: Coordinate, train and monitor schools
  • Districts: Consolidate, verify and submit reports
  • Provinces: Oversee, evaluate and submit to Ministry
  • National: Policy, strategy, national reporting

Production Unit Tracking · National Database

School District Thematic Area Status Learners Output
Kalonga High School Chirundu Agriculture Operational 420 2.4 MT maize
Chirundu Community School Chirundu Design & Technology Strengthening 280 48 desks produced
Pambazana Secondary Chirundu Wholesale & Retail Proposed — —
Lusitu Primary School Chirundu Agriculture Operational 310 1.1 MT groundnuts
SMS-based submission available for low-connectivity schools Province → District → Zone → School drill-down Data fed quarterly
Governance Structure

The Coordinating Committee Ladder

From primary school to national level, each tier has a defined committee with clear responsibilities: familiarise, disseminate, train, monitor, assess, evaluate, hold Expos and exhibit at Agricultural Shows.

PSPUCC
Primary School
PTC Executive · Traditional/Civic Leader · PU Coordinator · Teacher Reps
School Level
SSPUCC
Secondary School
Education Board Executive · Traditional/Civic Leader · PU Coordinator · Teacher Reps
School Level
CPUCC
College of Education
Education Board Executive · Traditional/Civic Leader · PU Coordinator · Lecturer Reps
College Level
ZPUCC
Zone
Zonal Education Support Team (ZEST) · School PU Coordinators · Civic Leader
Zone Level
DPUCC
District
District Education Support Team (DEST) · Zonal Head Teachers · Civic Leader
District Level
PPUCC
Province
Provincial Education Support Team (PEST) · DEBS Representative · Community Stakeholder
Province Level
NPUCC
National
National Education Support Team (NEST) · PEST Representative · Community Stakeholder
National Level
Thematic Impact

Measurable National Outcomes by Thematic Area

Aggregated from 11,000+ schools, each thematic area delivers specific outcomes aligned to the 8NDP, Vision 2030 and the Grow Zambia Agenda. Not just numbers — real impact.

Agriculture

Food Security & Income

28,000+
MT Annual Production
8,400+
MT School Feeding
3,200+
Functional Fish Ponds
12,000+
Poultry Units
Design & Technology

Skills & Infrastructure

45,000+
Desks Produced
28,000+
Uniforms Tailored
1,800+
Workshops Equipped
950+
Catering Units
Wholesale & Retail

Enterprise & Linkages

6,200+
Twinning Partnerships
14,000+
School Tuck-Shops
2,800+
Distribution Channels
K42M+
Institutional Income
Tourism & Hospitality

Local Tourism & Services

850+
Lodging Facilities
2,100+
Internet Cafés
3,400+
Botanical Gardens
600+
Heritage Sites
Transport

Mobility & Logistics

1,200+
School Bus Services
4,500+
Bicycle Schemes
380+
Boat Services
8,900+
Delivery Routes
Real Estate

Asset Development

2,800+
Teacher Housing
1,400+
Community Halls
K28M+
Rental Income
35%
Cost Recovery
Classroom to Production

Curriculum Linkage & Competence Mapping

"The education system has a critical role in this transformation. If Zambia is to become a more productive nation, we must develop an education system that does not only impart knowledge and qualifications, but also equips learners with practical skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, enterprise thinking and an understanding of production."

Curriculum Linkages

Metalwork Design & Technology
Actual Fabrication Activities
  • Fabricating gates, window frames and door frames for school and community buildings
  • Producing metal tools such as hoes, rakes and hand cultivators for school gardens
  • Constructing metal desks and chairs for classrooms
  • Repairing broken school furniture and equipment
Competences Developed
  • Problem Solving: identifying structural needs and designing solutions
  • Creativity & Innovation: designing functional metal products
  • Collaboration: working in fabrication teams with shared safety
  • Financial Literacy: costing materials and calculating production expenses
Carpentry & Joinery Design & Technology
Actual Fabrication Activities
  • Producing desks, tables and chairs for local primary schools
  • Building shelving units and storage cabinets for school libraries
  • Constructing building components such as roof trusses and door frames
  • Making school signs, notice boards and display units
Competences Developed
  • Problem Solving: measuring, cutting and assembling to precise specifications
  • Creativity & Innovation: designing furniture that meets specific school needs
  • Collaboration: coordinating production workflows in carpentry teams
  • Financial Literacy: pricing finished products and managing timber costs
Agriculture Science Agriculture
Actual Production Activities
  • Establishing and managing a 1-hectare maize plot for school feeding programmes
  • Operating a poultry unit producing eggs and meat for school meals and local sale
  • Stocking and managing fish ponds with tilapia and catfish
  • Growing mushrooms using locally available substrates
Competences Developed
  • Analytical Thinking: interpreting soil tests and crop performance data
  • Problem Solving: diagnosing pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies
  • Financial Literacy: tracking input costs and calculating profit margins
  • Environmental Sustainability: practicing crop rotation and organic farming
Home Economics / Food & Nutrition Tourism & Hospitality
Actual Production Activities
  • Operating a school catering service for meetings, workshops and community events
  • Processing and packaging food products (jams, sauces, dried fruits, peanut butter)
  • Tailoring school uniforms, curtains and soft furnishings for schools
  • Running a school tuck-shop providing healthy snacks to learners
Competences Developed
  • Financial Literacy: costing recipes, pricing services and managing food costs
  • Creativity & Innovation: developing new food products from local ingredients
  • Communication: customer service and client relationship management
  • Collaboration: coordinating catering teams for large events
ICT / Computer Science Tourism & Hospitality
Actual Digital Activities
  • Operating a school internet café providing services to learners and community
  • Providing computer repair and maintenance services to local schools and businesses
  • Creating digital content (videos, social media posts) to market school PU products
  • Managing the school's PU database and reporting system
Competences Developed
  • Digital Literacy: applying software and hardware skills in real business contexts
  • Communication: creating digital content for real audiences and purposes
  • Entrepreneurship: identifying and charging for ICT services
  • Problem Solving: troubleshooting technical issues for real clients

Competence Integration Matrix — 12 Core Competencies

Based on the 2023 Zambia Curriculum Framework

Competence Agric D&T Retail Tourism Transport Real Estate
1. Critical Thinking ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ◐ ◐
2. Problem Solving ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
3. Creativity & Innovation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ◐ ◐
4. Communication ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
5. Collaboration & Teamwork ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
6. Digital Literacy ◐ ✓ ✓ ✓ ◐ ◐
7. Financial Literacy ✓ ◐ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
8. Entrepreneurship ◐ ◐ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
9. Citizenship ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
10. Environmental Awareness ✓ ✓ ◐ ✓ ◐ ◐
11. Health & Wellness ✓ ◐ ✓ ✓ ◐ ◐
12. Lifelong Learning ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ Fully evidenced · ◐ Partially evidenced

Competence Integration at a Glance

The matrix above demonstrates how the six Production Unit thematic areas align with the 12 core competencies of the 2023 Zambia Curriculum Framework. Fully evidenced competencies (✓) indicate direct, authentic integration through production activities. Partially evidenced competencies (◐) indicate emerging or supplementary integration opportunities.

72
Fully Evidenced
18
Partially Evidenced
6
Thematic Areas
View Detailed Integration

Evidence of Learner Skills

Metalwork
Metalwork
Learner fabricating gate
Agriculture
Agriculture
Learner tending maize plot
Retail
Retail
Learner managing tuck-shop
Hospitality
Hospitality
Learner catering service
Transport
Transport
Learner bicycle delivery
Real Estate
Real Estate
Learner maintaining housing
Official Documents

PU Publications

Access the complete set of official Production Unit publications, organised into seven categories. These documents provide the policy, implementation and reporting framework for the Grow Zambia Agenda.

Policy & Legal Framework documents
  • Grow Zambia Circular 2.4 MB
  • PU Concept Note 2023 5.1 MB
  • Education Act 1.8 MB
  • National Values & Principles 0.9 MB
Baseline & Research Data & analysis
  • National Baseline Report 8.2 MB
  • Provincial Profiles 6.7 MB
  • Thematic Studies 4.3 MB
  • Annual Impact Assessment 3.9 MB
Reporting Templates Standard formats
  • Standard Reporting Template 1.2 MB
  • School Action Plan Guide 2.1 MB
  • District Consolidation Format 1.5 MB
  • Provincial Summary Format 1.1 MB
Curriculum & Competence Learning frameworks
  • Competence Framework 3.4 MB
  • Subject Linkage Guide 2.8 MB
  • Assessment Tools 2.2 MB
  • Competence Matrix Handbook 4.1 MB
Expos & Field Days Events & competitions
  • Field Days Handbook 1.9 MB
  • Expo Guidelines 2.3 MB
  • Competition Rules 1.4 MB
  • Judging Criteria 0.8 MB
Software & Data Digital tools
  • PU Tracking Software Manual 3.7 MB
  • Data Entry Protocols 1.6 MB
  • SMS Submission Guide 1.3 MB
  • Database Administrator Guide 2.5 MB
Training & Capacity Human resources
  • Teacher Training Module 5.2 MB
  • Coordinator Handbook 3.8 MB
  • Community Engagement Guide 2.7 MB
  • Capacity Building Framework 4.4 MB
Zambia PU Bulletin

Voices from the Field

Quarterly reports from Provincial Education Officers, DEBS and Heads of Schools — comprehensive evidence of skills acceleration, impact, productivity and outputs.

Mutinta
Mutinta
Provincial Education Officer · Southern Province
"In Southern Province, 62 schools have established production units ranging from poultry to carpentry. Learners are not just passing exams — they are running enterprises. This is the Grow Zambia Agenda in action."
Q3 2026 Report · Skills Acceleration
Kayombo
Kayombo
District Education Board Secretary · Chirundu
"Chirundu District has exceeded its 2026 target — 38 schools now have operational production units. The desks produced by our learners have furnished 12 primary schools. Real impact, real outputs."
Q3 2026 Report · Productivity & Outputs
Nasilele
Nasilele
Head Teacher · Kalonga High School
"Our agriculture learners harvested 2.4 MT of maize this season. That's not just food for the school — it's proof that classroom theory works when applied. The learners are proud. The community is watching."
Q3 2026 Report · Impact & Linkages
Temwani
Temwani
National Production Unit Coordinator · DNSC
"Twinning linkages between urban and rural schools have created a real market for PU products. Urban schools buy from rural schools; rural schools learn enterprise skills. This is the intra and inter reflux the policy envisioned."
Q3 2026 Report · National Policy Alignment
Mwaba
Mwaba
Head Teacher · Lusitu Primary School
"Our school tuck-shop, run entirely by learners, generated K12,000 last term. The learners manage stock, pricing and customer service. They are learning business by doing business."
Q3 2026 Report · Enterprise & Linkages
In Action

Production Units Across Zambia

From boreholes to harvest, from workshops to market — witness Zambia's schools transforming into productive engines of national development.

Maize field
Maize Production · Chirundu
Workshop
Metal Fabrication · Lusaka
Retail
School Tuck-Shop · Ndola
Hospitality
Catering Unit · Livingstone
Transport
School Transport · Kitwe
Real Estate
Teacher Housing · Kasama
Training
Skills Training · Mongu
Community
Community Demo · Chipata
Livestock
Poultry Unit · Mansa
Aquaculture
Fish Farming · Luapula
Tailoring
Tailoring Unit · Solwezi
Beekeeping
Beekeeping · Kabompo
Latest Updates

News & Announcements

National

Ministry Launches National PU Database

The Production Unit Tracking Software is now live, enabling real-time monitoring of all 11,000+ schools across Zambia.

15 September 2026
Provincial

Luapula Exceeds Q3 Production Targets

47 schools in Luapula Province report operational fish ponds and poultry units, exceeding quarterly targets by 18%.

10 September 2026
District

Chirundu Twinning Partnerships Signed

12 urban-rural twinning agreements signed in Chirundu District, creating new markets for school-produced goods.

5 September 2026
Strategic Alignment

Strategic Alignment

Anchored in National & Global Frameworks

Vision 2030
"A prosperous middle-income nation by 2030."
Driving Zambia's long-term development vision through agricultural productivity and practical skills.
8th National Development Plan
"Socio-economic transformation for improved livelihoods."
Directly aligned to the 8NDP's transformative agenda for food security and skills development.
Competence-Based Curriculum
"Producing a learner who is critical, creative, analytical and a problem-solver."
Integrating real production into the national curriculum framework for practical outcomes.
SDG 2 · Zero Hunger
"End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition."
Contributing directly to sustainable food production and improved learner nutrition.
SDG 4 · Quality Education
"Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all."
Delivering practical skills and lifelong learning opportunities through production units.
Climate Action Plan
"Promoting climate-smart agriculture and sustainable water management."
Promoting climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy through school production units.
Constitution · National Values
"Morality, patriotism, democracy, human dignity and sustainable development."
Upholding national values and principles through practical citizenship and production.
Grow Zambia Agenda
"Increased production, job creation, entrepreneurship and value addition."
The overarching national agenda for economic transformation through education.

Together, let us build a productive education system for a productive Zambia.

All Provincial Education Officers, District Education Board Secretaries and Heads of Schools are directed to give this initiative the attention it deserves and to ensure implementation begins within the timelines provided.