Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Failure to Extend Bursaries to Students in Private Institutions by Parliament

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By Chanoda Frackson Ngwira

It is undoubtedly evident that the reference to FREE EDUCATION by our colleagues in UPND has become part of their DNA in regards to when they want to talk about fulfilling their promises.

Let me hasten to say that we appreciate the free education and yes ours is to end at that for we are obviously expectant to seeing the end result of the same. Is it qualitative or quantitative education being provided, and again, at what level regards skills is this free education of upto Grade 12 achieved in the whole sense?

Fellow countrymen and women, if this FREE EDUCATION doesn’t meet the required prerequisites of achieving meaningful skills as it should be, then let’s pause a bit and reflect. I mean what is the essence of a free thing that only ends at a level that is affordable even at a fee and leaving the most important level which is basically expensive yet getting a skill? The most important level regards skills and future is actually the tertiary level, yes, tertiary education in my view is one that brings hope and economic meaning with or without employment.

This brings me to my main focus and question; why shoot down a bill that wants to safeguard and guarantee the future of our children and the country as a whole while giving away free money to the mines? I mean why must our children be paying huge sums of money in these Universities, private or public instead of helping them with loans and bursaries yet we give free money to the mines? Where is the sense?

Let’s be sincere here, what skills do our pupils get as a result of free Education from Grade one to Grade 12? Why end free education in Grade 12? Our children learn about shaka Zulu, Adolf Hitler and grasshoppers, what skills do they gain after finishing their FREE EDUCATION?

It, therefore, surprises me to note that our Parliamentarians especially UPND members, would choose to shoot down a bill that wants to introduce affordable and free education at tertiary which will result in the gaining of skills by our children. They have shot down a progressive movement that makes more sense than the FREE EDUCATION which they talk about every day.

Where is their consciousness? Is UPND still going to boast about being a caring Government regarding FREE EDUCATION when on the other hand, they are busy shooting down such progressive Bills?

WAKE UP OUR STUDENTS AND DEMAND FOR WHAT YOU WERE PROMISED.

11 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t like the Upnd but I wouldn’t support government giving loans, scholarships or bursaries for people attending private institutions be it primary, secondary or college. For one to go to private school one must really well off. Secondly we don’t have the machenisms to monitor how such assistance will be utilized.

  2. Parliament is absolutely correct.
    Free education from the government is available to everyone at government run schools, parents are free to reject this free education and pay for it elsewhere if they wish. If I want to educate my child outside the state system I would expect to pay.
    This is what is known as freedom of choice.
    People like this contributor must STOP writing such nonsence

  3. Free education has limits. What is private, must remain private.

    We have several private primary, secondary and daycares in Zambia. They don’t qualify for this free education project. Additionally, all grade 12 pupils from private schools upon graduation are disqualified for part or 100% GRZ assistance when they seek Tertiary education, say at UNZA or CBU a “TEVETA” college, unless it is a special case. The reason is, these individuals can afford to pay and shouldn’t “eat on subsidised education” meant for the vulnerable.

  4. Chanoda Chirwa seems not to understand the distinction between public and private universities. If you extend bursaries and other forms of state support to private institutions, then they cease being private universities. Apart from that, admission to public universities is strictly on merit: if you don’t meet their cut-off point, you don’t get admitted and you don’t qualify for a bursary. In contrast, private universities admit anyone who can afford to pay and are not very strict in their admission criteria; if you have 5 “O” levels and enough cash on you, you are in! I know what I am talking about because I have been involved in both types of institutions.

  5. Do you want free education to be extended to private students? Most of them would tell you the reason why the opted for private education was to flee the poor education that comes with anything that is offered for free (education).

  6. You send dec officers to go to a former president’s residence who has immunity, just to intimidate him and to quench your insecurity. A very sad day in Zambian history. Hh lacks manners and is a childish irresponsible fraud. Don’t worry karma has a way of dealing with such.

    If you want war then arrest our president ecl

    PF media team in the UK

  7. I don’t have think even Pvt universities will agree because GRZ doesn’t even remit the funds required for each student on these loan scheme. That is the reason they poorly run although they the most expensive.

  8. I don’t think even Pvt universities will agree because GRZ doesn’t even remit the funds required for each student on these loan scheme. That is the reason they poorly run although they the most expensive.

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