The National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia has asked the Ministry of Education for practical operational guidance on managing late-coming pupils, following a recent government directive.

NUPPEZ President Victor Muyumba welcomed the directive to keep late pupils in the classroom rather than send them home. No learner should lose a day of school over lateness. But he warned that without corrective measures written into the policy, schools will lose teaching time and teachers will carry the cost.

Schools operate on strict timetables to ensure effective teaching and learning. Chronic late-coming disrupts lessons, affects other pupils, and places additional pressure on teachers.

NUPPEZ asked the Ministry to issue detailed guidance allowing schools to apply corrective measures after class hours, so that pupils are held to account without being shut out of lessons.