Copperbelt University (CBU) Dean of Students, Allan Ilunga, has bemoaned the ignorance about the availability of the government bursary scheme among school leavers.

Mr Ilunga observed that vulnerable school leavers, especially those in rural areas, could not access tertiary education from the university because they were not aware of the availability of the bursary scheme.

He lamented that the bursary scheme ended up benefiting the rich who can afford the fees instead of the intended vulnerable.

Mr Ilunga urged civic leaders to sensitise the school leavers and poor leaders on the availability of the service so that vulnerable children can have a chance of attaining tertiary education with the help of government.

He was speaking in Kitwe today during a Copperbelt University Management interactive meeting with Copperbelt Minister, Mwenya Musenge, Copperbelt-based District Commissioners, Town Clerks and City Mayors.

And Copperbelt University Vice Chancellor, Naison Ngoma, said CBU was faced with various challenges that hinder its smooth operation.

Prof Ngoma cited insufficient infrastructure, water shortages and inadequate qualified staff among others as some of the major challenges faced by the institution.

And Prof Ngoma said there was need to decentralize the university activities and create schools in all the districts on the Copperbelt Province.

And Copperbelt Minister, Mwenya Musenge, said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government would support the education sector to accord youth an opportunity to access quality education.

Mr Musenge commended CBU for organizing the interactive meeting as it had enabled government to realize the challenges that the institution was facing.
He said his office will forward the problems highlighted by the University Management to the appropriate authority to ensure that they are addressed.

ZANIS

9 COMMENTS

Kanichi January 22, 2013 At 9:53 am

Hardly shocking news. I bet they know that the National soccer team were promised 90k USD each. The ineptitude of the politicians masquerading as representatives of the people who voted for them is self evident. Rather unfortunate reality we have in Zambia.
Twitter23 January 22, 2013 At 3:28 pm

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Twitter24 January 22, 2013 At 3:30 pm

Hi, just wanted to say i liked this article. it was practical. keep on posting.
Grant January 22, 2013 At 4:13 pm

The most cost effective way of disseminating such information is by simply sending letters, brochures etc to all school headteachers in the country with strict instructions to make this info available to all pupils- kwasila. holding seminars about it is only a money spinner for the attendants!!!!
Village Champion January 22, 2013 At 6:08 pm

It’s true that most people in rural areas have no such data.People from BC visit rural areas though not regularly. I’m as well from one of the Rural areas in Zed. But had the opportunity to know about government bursary schemes (Someone came to our school to tell us about it) a, just once in the whole 5 years I was at School.
HASTINGS SIKAFUWA January 23, 2013 At 9:22 am

Thank very much SIR for your wise and BLESSED THOUGHTS.I am one of them living in a rural area called SIATWINDA in SINAZONGWE DISTRICT were there is less information about BURSARIES.I am a luck one that atleast i have information on it,but at the same time i am trying to sensetize my fellow school leavers.I think the Government should send information to the Headteachers to shade light to pupils.THANKS TO CBU FOR CONSIDERING MY APPLICATION FOR 2013 intake.
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