Friday, March 29, 2024

Government to table Student Loans Bill to replace the bursaries scheme-Kaingu

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CHOMA Trades Training Institute principal Tom Kapamba (left) shows Southern Province deputy Permanent Secretary Douglas Ngimbu (middle), Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu (in white shirt) and College vice board chairperson Subi Thomas (far right) some school desks being made by carpentry students at the College
Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu (in white shirt

MINISTER of Higher Education Michael Kaingu yesterday told Parliament that Government will soon table a Student Loans Bill to replace the bursaries scheme aimed at providing assistance to vulnerable students at public universities.

And Dr Kaingu says Government is ready to dialogue with the leadership of University of Zambia Students’ Union (UNZASU) and Copperbelt University Students’ Union (COBUSU) with the aim of re-opening the University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Copperbelt University (CBU), which were recently closed following violent protests over meal allowances.

Dr Kaingu said he is hopeful that the Student Loans Bill will be brought to the House soon.

“We have advanced in preparing the Bill for student loans. It is my hope that it will be brought to the House during this session,” Dr Kaingu said.

The minister said this shortly after presenting ministerial statements in response to a question from Chadiza member of Parliament (MP) Allan Mbewe (MMD).

Mr Mbewe wanted to know when the Student Loans Scheme will be implemented as it will resolve the recurring protests at institutions over allowances.

And Dr Kaingu told parliament in his ministerial statement that Government does not take pleasure in closing public universities because it values education and that closures are a cost.

“Closing UNZA and CBU was a very painful decision Government had to make but it was the only option we were left with after violent protests by students,” Dr Kaingu said.

He explained that Government did not owe the students meal allowances at the time they protested as they had been paid upfront for a period of 59 days out of 97 days at CBU and 53 days out of 90 days at UNZA.
“Government is supposed to pay students meal allowances per day but we decided to pay them in advance for convenience sake,” Dr Kaingu said.

He observed that most students do not know how to budget once they are paid meal allowances.

He said this after Kalomo MP Request Muntanga (UPND) asked whether Government had provided food to the students before paying them allowances.

“These students spend their allowance as soon as they get it. They use meal allowances to buy electronic gadgets such as smart phones instead of buying food and they later blame Government,” Dr Kaingu said.

And in responding to Namwala MP Moono Lubezhi (UPND) who asked what yardstick the minister was using to measure the maturity of the students, Dr Kaingu described some students as unteachable and lacking leadership qualities.

“There is no humility in some of these students. The university is a place not just to learn academics but to develop a character of leadership. I appeal to all of us parents to inculcate good character in our students as they are future leaders,” Dr Kaingu said.

16 COMMENTS

  1. Well, Mr Kaingu, you failed to inculcate good character in your daughter. Your parenting skills are quite questionable. Try and teach Iris some humility first then preach to other parents.

  2. The topic is shat Kaingu said,for once this iris out of the topic.Yes she out her way when she tweeted without thinking through but giving too much attention will destruct focus on real issues that’s funding of public universities scholarships

  3. WE NEED MORE ACTION AND LESS TALK. GOOD TO HEAR THAT KAINGU WILL SOON ENGAGE UNZASU SO AS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AND OPEN THE TWO SCHOOLS. PLEASE PF DON’T PLAY WITH EDUCATION. EDUCATION IS KEY TO DEVELOPMENT OF A COUNTRY. YOU CAN TEMPER WITH OTHER THINGS BUT NOT TO JUST CLOSE SCHOOLS ANYHOW JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T HONOR YOUR OBLIGATION TO SUSTAIN THE LIVES OF ZAMBIA’S STUDENTS AT THE TWO STATE UNIVERSITIES. PLEASE MR. KAINGU OPEN THE SCHOOLS BY NEXT WEEK, PLEASE.

    • ACTUALLY, IT’S THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES WHO ARE PLAYING WITH EDUCATION. YOU CAN’T BE GIVEN MEAL ALLOWANCE ONLY TO END UP BUYING iPhones AND WHEN YOU GET BROKE YOU START THROWING STONES AT PEOPLE AND VEHICLE. AFRICAN STUDENTS HAVE A PROBLEM. I REMEMBER AT ONE TIME MY FORMER LECTURER OBSERVED THAT AFRICAN STUDENTS ONCE THEY GET THEIR ALLOWANCES FROM THEIR GOVTS SPEND THE MONEY ON VERY EXPENSIVE GADGETS, AND CAR AND RENT VERY EXPENSIVE ROOMS. WHILE EUROPEAN STUDENTS BUY STUDY MATERIAL AND RENT ROOMS IN LOFTS. HE MADE AN EXAMPLE OF A GERMANY GIRL WHOSE GOVT SENT HER A LOT OF MONEY BUT RENTED A LOFT AND BOUGHT ALL STUDY AIDS. SHE WASN’T THE ONLY ONE. SHE WAS JUST AN EXAMPLE. STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY AT UNIVERSITY SHOULD HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE TO DEAL WITH ISSUES.

  4. Kaingu’s responses show its him who lacks leadership qualities. Students survive for longer periods without the meagre allowances.
    The student loan scheme is long overdue. BC in its current form is unsustainable.
    The Auditor General’s queries at BC should also be followed up.

  5. Students loan scheme my foot. This is the same old story we have been hearing for 10 years now. 2006, I was made to sign a bursary form which read “Loan” and not “Grant.” I wonder when I will start repaying that loan.

    N.B. I am more than ready to pay back.

    • luanshya Road
      Can you imagine I also signed a similar form in 1991 and I am more than ready to repay but there are no modalities.Even the law this man is talking about may be unnecessary.They are probably waiting for donors to finance a seminar advising them on how to run the scheme.We must all agree we are pathetic.

  6. Removing school allowances is the only can solve problems from all universities, because receiving money without feel any pain for us african is big problem in spending,

  7. Fire this chap! He claims students were aware so I don’t see students rioting for no reason. Dispersing money properly and efficiently during the beginning of each school term can create understanding and eliminate unnecessary riots. In fact ask for students permission if they want to directly pay school fees to institutions that way they only worry about food. Meanwhile government can work with organisations and help with job creation through subsidies. That way students get a job, train through top industry leaders while learning at the same time. Kaingu is an *****! Stop the name blame and shame!

  8. its beta to let students knw tht you dont have money other than putting up stupid measures ba patriotic failures….too bad yu hv called fr yo exit soon..thoze sem students yu have hurt hv frends who also hv frends..its a chain link pa last you will find that everyone hate you…ka??

  9. I AM TIRED OF WAITING FOR THIS BC THINGY,,,,NJALA YATIPAYA KUNO……………..GOVT PLZ MUYANGANEPO……….UNZA

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