14 JAN

Zambian government applauded for prioritising education for all

Zambia’s ruling party, the Patriotic Front, Eng. Kang’ombe Christopher. Photo: African Media

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (ADV) – Zambia’s ruling party, the Patriotic Front (PF) in the Copperbelt Province has welcomed government’s decision to extend students loans to five more public universities this year.

Patriotic Front’s Copperbelt Province Vice Chairman, Eng. Kang’ombe Christopher said that the step is unprecedented because in the past only students from Copperbelt University (CBU) and University of Zambia (UNZA) were considered for education loans before.

“With this decision, more students totalling 1000, coming from poor families will have equal opportunities to get educated and acquire the qualifications to compete for employment opportunities in the job market,” said Kang’ombe.

“This is in line with chapter 1 on education under pages 8 to 15 of the PF manifesto booklet 2016- 2021. We promised better education from primary to tertiary level and increasing number of students’ loans is a fulfilment of this pledge.”

Since last year, the government embarked on an initiative to recover student loans. This move has helped the Zambian government to extend its provision of higher education loans to five public institutions.

On the list to benefit from the exercise are five universities that include Palabama, Chalimbana, Mulungushi, Mukuba and Nkhwame Nkurumah.

However, the Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) has also commended the Higher Education Loans and Scholarship Board for sticking to its promise to include Palabana, Chalimbana, Kwame Nkrumah, Mukuba and Mulungushi universities on the student grants and loans.

“Government must progressively move towards the provision of student loans and scholarships based on the need by students who come from marginalised and poor families as opposed to institution-specific. We believe the intention of Parliament when it enacted the HESLB Act No. 31 of 2016 was not to discriminate on students who must obtain loans but to ensure all students of higher learning from both public and private institutions get an equal opportunity to access these loans,” ZANASU Information and Publicity Secretary, Assa Williey, noting that the government can do more to ensure loans are accessed by all needy students of higher learning from both public and private universities.

Williey added that the Government must progressively move towards the provision of student loans and scholarships based on the need by students who come from marginalised and poor families as opposed to institution-specific. We believe the intention of Parliament when it enacted the HESLB Act No. 31 of 2016 was not to discriminate on students who must obtain loans but to ensure all students of higher learning from both public and private institutions get an equal opportunity to access these loans.

The Ministry of Higher Education Public Relations Officer, Chiselwa Kawanda told the media that of the 1 000 Scholarships, 40% will be given on merit. She also said that 30% will be awarded to females, while another 30% will be given to applicants from rural communities.

Source: https://africandailyvoice.com/en/2019/01/04/zambian-government-applauded-for-prioritising-education-for-all/