Claim
On February 14, 2026, the Zambian Teachers Corner Facebook page published a claim stating that “chasing away pupils who report late for classes has been abolished” and that “learners can attend lessons at any time they feel like.” The post, which was widely reshared by numerous Facebook users, sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some questioning its potential impact on discipline while others welcomed it as a learner-friendly move.
Verification:
iVerify Zambia contacted the Ministry of Education for clarification to establish the correct policy position on the matter. It has been confirmed that while it is true that schools must not send learners home for reporting late, late coming remains an offence and is subject to disciplinary action.
In a press statement issued on February 16, 2026 and obtained by iVerify Zambia, the Permanent Secretary for Educational Services in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Kelvin Mambwe, clarified that while all learners must be allowed access to lessons, punctuality is a core value that schools are expected to enforce. Late reporting is recognised as disruptive to learning and school order, and schools are required to apply disciplinary measures for learners who fail to comply with rules.
However, the Ministry emphasised that disciplinary measures should never interfere with learning time for pupils, stating that sending learners home for reporting late is prohibited because it denies pupils the opportunity to learn.
Conclusion
iVerify Zambia has established that while it is true that learners should not be sent home for being late, it is misleading to suggest that pupils can report for lessons at any time without consequences. Late coming remains an offence, and schools are expected to enforce punctuality through appropriate constructive and corrective measures that encourage reflection and personal growth rather than excluding learners from class.
