Improving Educational Opportunities: Can Public Administrators Build a Sustainable Middle Class in Zambia?

Zambia has problems with its education system that inhibit the growth of an educated, middle-class workforce. While it has made dramatic progress in access to lower education in the past decade, it has had more difficulty expanding educational opportunities for grades 8-12 and in higher education. In addition to a persistently high HIV/AIDS infection rate, Zambia has a rapidly growing young population but lacks infrastructure, qualified teachers, and enough college graduates to achieve its educational goals. This article identifies the problems that threaten the educational system and makes recommendations to help Zambia achieve its goal to build a sustainable middle class.