Minister of Higher Education, Mike Kaingu has called on management at Solwezi Trades Training Institute (SOTTI) to be innovative in initiating income-generating ventures that will help sustain the institute instead of just looking to the government for funding.
Dr Kaingu emphasised that this does not mean that the government will not assist the institution with funds, adding that currently, the government coffers are depleted.
He stressed the need for the institution to train students to be innovative and acquire entrepreneurship skills that will turn them into employers and not job seekers.
The minister said he was encouraged to learn that the institution raises money through hiring out some classrooms to churches and other business related activities to keep it running.
Dr Kaingu said this morning when he inspected Solwezi Trades Training Institute in the company of North Western Province Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga, the mayor, and other government officials.
And institute Principal, Edmond Kambobe, told the minister that the institute faces big challenges which require the attention of government such as a modern workshop for power electricity course.
Mr Kambobe further said the institute requires a workshop for metal fabrication, 25 x10m activity hall for income generating activities, such as weddings, conferences and church activities and a wall fence.
The principal charged that any delay by TEVETA in authorizing SOTTI management to introduce new additional courses and advertising on time will create a challenge with a low turnout of students.
Mr Kambobe noted that the library is not stocked with books required for most courses, a situation he described as very unfortunate as it affects high quality training and innovation.
The minister is mixing up issues. Let’s get the basics right: institutions of learning must make their money through charging cost reflective tuition fees nothing else! The pretence of funding education that has gone on since independence needs to come to an end soon if we are to develop the skills we need!
This is the reason why the country has collapsed. How laughable is this. Is this a true minister? LOLEST. Amazing
Problems that are being faced by institutions of higher learning (Colleges and universities) revolves around the failing culture of funding bursaries to students. Beneficiaries of the Bursaries Committee have abused Govt gesture of reaching out to our youths who yearn for higher education.
This provision of bursaries must quickly be replaced by the loan schemes so as to teach students aspects of maturity to appreciate the management of tax payers. Besides, the Minister of Education as a conveyor of GRZ education policies should accept that he made an error by including Unions in CBU’s Interim Committee which is supposed to be the employer of academics and non-academic staff. This can be corrected when he appoints a new CBU Council.
Ati we rent out class room for churches and need a room to rent for weddings? Do those activities fall under any of the courses you run??? That why Zambian artisans struggle and you find foreigners doing beter. Instead of seeking bussiness ventures that are in line with courses where students can get some practice, not them. For example cheifing collages will run a restaurant for income generation and practice for the students.
Laughable indeed these ministers we have in leadership!!
No offence to the old people, same old ways and deeds. Minister should be talking to Mines in North West to get students on apprentinceship programs. Real life situations and solving real problems is another we can have experience in certain fields.
Mwansa Kabinga your facts are wrong. The CBU interim council appointed by the minister has only one representative for each union i.e the general workers union, administrative workers union, academics union and students union. The other five members are from the ministry of education and the private sector including Hon Kaingu’s friend Friday Ndhlovu as the chair of the interim committee. so the report Hon Kaingu is resisting to act on was generated by a committee whose majority was from the ministry and the private sector. Shame on Hon. Kaingu for taking the interest of the 4 incompetent and failed managers as his priority. Shame on President Lungu and the PF for watching while the situation deteriorates at CBU.