Ms. Mwale, who joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Youth Day, said the decision by Government has inimical effects on students especially the vulnerable young girls and boys that come from poor families.
She explained that the bursary scheme was deliberately designed to help students from poor families and scraping it off will definitely negate on the principle of promoting equitable access to tertiary education on the youth.
Ms. Mwale said the decision is not welcome because it will also without doubt send many more youths out of tertiary school, to join the thousands of jobless young people on the streets.
She noted that when young people are empowered they can be key agents of peace and it can hasten development in Zambia.
Ms. Mwale also cited that young people are the future leaders and how they are treated now will have a large bearing on the outlook and destiny of the country.
She has however urged the youths to offer themselves to take up the leadership mantle by standing for political positions and refusing to be used as agents of violence.
“NGOCC is calling upon the Government to immediately reconsider the decision to scrap the meal allowance of the students. This decision has adverse effects on students especially the vulnerable young girls and boys that come from poor families. The bursary scheme was deliberately designed to help students from poor families and scraping it off will definitely negate on the principle of promoting equitable access to tertiary education on these promising youths. This decision alone will, without doubt, send many more youths out of tertiary school, to join the thousands of jobless young people on the streets” Engwase Mwale said
Meanwhile the NGOCC executive Director noted with Sadness that Zambia celebrates International Youth Day when the two Universities, the University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Copperbelt University (CBU) have remained closed, a situation which will have a negative impact to the youths at the two highest learning institutions.
She has therefore appealed to Government to put in place measures that will address the many challenges in the education sector and subsequently the high levels of unemployment.
“In Zambia, today, youths are beleaguered and beseeched by a number of challenges including poor access to quality education, unemployment and disease. It is sad that this year as the country celebrates the International Youth Day, the two Universities – University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Copperbelt University (CBU) remain closed, much to the disadvantage of the many youths at these institutions. Further, Government has announced that Government will no longer pay meal allowances to students at these institutions” said Engwase Mwale
STUDENT LOANS FOR ALL. We can’t keep going back and forth. Even in Europe students don’t get meal allowances over their Student Finance and it’s provisions for disabled students. It’s crazy. How can you rule a country like this with so many bodies intervening, contravening. It looks like all these provisions for borrowed money are making our countries ungovernable. The only reconsideration a for Zambia is to remove these NGOs that persistently cause an environment of dissatisfaction and keep citizen emotions on the boil with fake unrealistic demands. Thus is stupid.
Whether in Europe, the USA or even China the state supports its best and deserving students. It does not matter whether you call it student loans that are payable or grants such as meal allowances, the point is the state supports for its vulnerable and deserving students! No doubt, the best Zambian brains in Engineering, Medicine, Physics and other fields have been and continue to come out of UNZA and CBU. And in most cases, the very best come from very poor rural backgrounds where without any support, that talent would not have been spotted.
Thats a fact my friend.
RESPECT
@Lungu, do you not know what a Student Loan is because you don’t write sense. The student loan is to support students while they study, it covers meals etc. there is no need for small meal payments if the student loans are at an adequate level.
The issue of vulnerability and poor ends immediately these students gets admitted and start receiving allowances. They easily forget their background and engage in throwing stones at motorists and damaging properties.
Instead of these ngos blaming govt which do almost 100percent for educating these criminals they should condemn students actions first because busurry schemes is not a right but a prevaledge. They misuse this prevailage to a point of forgetting about their poor background and the sore purpose of being in uni.
It seems only unza and cbu universities are the only ones with poor students.What about other institutions?
Preacher selling “anionted pens” to pass exams!
Come all ye small minded brainwashed id!ots, bring your money…You will pass and cheat for a price.
Yes selling them is wrong. God gives freely.
The PF is just decampaigning itself, other successful Governments were not stupid to introduce such a scheme… Most of those against the allowances are the people who have never been to the two highest learning institutions and the grid politicians… Anyway! 11th August, 2016 is just around the corner. This try and erra Goverment will be history.
@Lombe what are you saying really. Have you thought it through. Do you not realise Student Loans are the way advanced nations go? Even USA, UK, EU give these for students. Are you suggesting UPND will reverse this, because if you are then you are decampaigning your party.
We need this now. Leadership that looks beyond election and populism. It is really about time that we look at a different strategy – perhaps students will now find a more mature way of protesting.
Patritic abroad, why should you insinuate that who ever is opposing PF is UNPD, is UPND the only oposition in Zambia? If that is the case then UPND is winning because the opposition in Zambia are the majority.
I have not assumed that. You criticised the loss of meal allowances and said PF are decampaigning themselves as a result. The opposition even when their support is taken together cannot win over PF.
Pardon for calling you UPND if you are not. That hurts man!! To be associated with gutter dogs is not fair.
Patriotic abroad Don’t such a language on your fellow human being because even the people supporting UPND, they have reasons why they are supporting the party. I thought you would find ways of convincing to support your PF by telling them the goodness of joining people. I think some of the people supporting UPND are learned and some it can be an afroant comparing them to you. Therefore, let us avoid certain languages because it may expose the level of your thinking although you are not seen.
Sadly there is no language to describe UPND. sorry for insulting your sensitivity. I have to correct you though, no matter how educated a non patriotic citizen, they can never be more educated than a less educated Patriot. Because loving your origins and protecting them are the outcome of a good educated citizen. Goodnight, have a good week.
I mean don’t use such a languange, I omitted the word use.
We need to be prudent and pragmatic in passing the comments regarding the meal allowance at UNZA and CBU. It would be unrealistic of anyone to compare a developed country, which pays salaries to the aged with Zambia which is striving to develop. The highest population in Zambia is poor, but have very intelligent children who can help develop the country if given the financial support, like meal allowance or whatever name it may be given.
It is not a luxury, like when it is given to a minister’s child, it is a NECESSITY to my fellow less privileged but intelligent Zambians. It is the ones to whom it is a luxury that initiate unnecessary riots at campus, may be because they cannot study.