The government has commenced a community scholarship programme that will empower over 5 000 youths with various skills by the year 2026.
In collaboration with the International Coalition of Fellowship (ICOF) Colleges Seminary and Universities, government says it plans to award 500 vulnerable children in each province with scholarships to pursue various courses up to Diploma level.
To this effect, the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts alongside the Ministry of Community Development and the International Coalition of Fellowship (ICOF) Colleges Seminary and Universities have entered a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the programme.
Speaking at the launch of the Community Scholarship Programme in Chibombo, Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts Elvis Nkandu says the programme demonstrates that Government places youth development as a priority through skills development.
Mr Nkandu projected that over 5,000 youths will be empowered with various skills in five years’ time under the programme.
He said the scholarships will allow for youths who have not passed in two or three subjects on condition that they rewrite while pursuing studies.
He said Government will always endeavour to practice inclusiveness.
“The New Dawn Government does not want to leave anyone behind meaning that by the time they are graduating they would have managed to have passed in all the five subjects at Grade 12 level,” Mr Nkandu said.
Speaking at the same occasion, ICOF Vice Chancellor Prof Charles Mwape said for the youths pursuing teacher education, they should be posted back to the areas they were initially selected from.
Prof Mwape said this will encourage the indigenous youths in the area.
And the Vice Chancellor said the programme directly addresses the lack of access to higher education opportunities in Africa.
“Expanding access and participation in higher education has been a major and ongoing concern of most African countries including Zambia,” he said.
And Keembe member of Parliament Princess Kasune Zulu hailed the programme saying it will empower youths in her constituency as well as countrywide.
What is and where is IOCF? What happened to TEVETA Institution? They don’t work with government anymore?
“He said the scholarships will allow for youths who have not passed in two or three subjects on condition that they rewrite while pursuing studies”.
This is laughable and a joke of the year ba UPND…….
They abandon TEVETA and they start looking for the so called IOCF…….we are yet to see more drama with this government. Real Chipantepante and a proper definition of UMULEMBWE WACIPUBA…….
Truth we warned you. Hh and his under 5 have no idea what they are doing
Goodness is this in any development plan or whatever you dream goes…pleae set up a scholarship to target 5000 women so no one is left behind
Mbuzi Meeeeeeeeeeeee nothing sensible comes from a pf cadre