Formed in faith, built for the classroom
The story, mission and people behind St. Mary's College of Education.
A Catholic college in the heart of Mbala
St. Mary's College of Education is an aided Christian college owned and run by the Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Kasama, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia. The college sits in Mbala Town, Northern Province, close to the Moto‑moto Museum — a setting that ties our students to the history and landscape of the region they will go on to serve.
We hold full accreditation with the Teaching Council of Zambia and the Examinations Council of Zambia, which serves as our examining body for the Secondary Teacher's Diploma. Every programme we run is designed against one standard: teachers who are competent in their subject, sound in character, and ready for the realities of a Zambian secondary school staffroom and classroom.
Our values in practice
Excellence
Rigorous academic standards across every diploma programme, examined externally by the Examinations Council of Zambia.
Service
A Catholic ethos of service that extends from chapel life into community outreach, agriculture, and sport.
Integrity
Discipline and honesty as the foundation of professional teaching practice — in the classroom and beyond it.
Owned by the Church, partnered with Government
The college is owned and administered by the Catholic Church through the Archdiocese of Kasama, operating in formal partnership with the Government of the Republic of Zambia. This dual foundation gives St. Mary's both its pastoral character and its standing within the national teacher-training system.
Day-to-day academic delivery is overseen by college leadership and lecturing staff across six departments, supported by a registrar's office that manages admissions, interviews and student records.
Recognised qualifications
- Teaching Council of ZambiaFull professional accreditation for all diploma graduates entering the teaching profession.
- Examinations Council of ZambiaServes as the external examining body for the Secondary Teacher's Diploma.
- Government of the Republic of ZambiaPartnership status supporting the college's role in national teacher supply.
A college that prays, plants and plays together
From chapel services with the Catholic Women's Organisation to International Youth Day marches, agricultural projects and inter-house sport, college life at St. Mary's is communal by design.
Ready to begin your teaching journey?
Explore our programmes and entry requirements, or get in touch with the admissions office directly.