c. School infrastructure should be improved so that children learn in a conducive environment; d. The upgrading of all primary schools to full basic school status by the year 2015; e. The provision of adequate financial resources for basic education; f. Ensuring that pupils acquire essential literacy, numeracy, life and communication skills; g. Enabling pupils to develop practical skills in one or more relevant areas; h. Supplying adequate teaching and learning materials to schools; i. Increasing the number of trained teachers and deploy them adequately to meet the rising demand for basic education; j. Eliminating gender imbalances in school, college enrolment and retention; and k. The active involvement of communities in the provision of education. 434. In order to achieve the National Education Policy, the Ministry of Education is implementing the Basic Education Sub-Sector Education Programme (BESSIP). The main objectives of BESSIP are to improve access, equality and equity of basic education mainly through enhanced provision of education materials, curriculum reforms, improved pedagogy, attention to health and nutrition as well as strengthening of pre- and inservice training of teachers. 435. Government administers most schools in Zambia although there are schools, which are managed by various church groups, NGOs and the private sector. Mission schools receive grant in aid. In 1996, there were 4,058 Government and grant-aided primary and basic schools. 165