By SYLVESTER MWALE –
THE Zambia Tamil Arts and Cultural Association (ZATACA) has given 61 educational scholarships to vulnerable pupils from different schools in Lusaka and Mazabuka.
The scholarships are aimed at assisting the children who were on the verge of dropping out of school because their parents could not afford to pay tuition fees.
Lusaka Province senior education standards officer Rose Siziya, who presented the bursaries at the weekend, commended the association for coming to the rescue of the pupils.
ZATACA is a non-profit association which draws its membership from Lusaka-based Tamil-speaking people originally from southern India and Sri Lanka.
Among the schools whose pupils have been sponsored are Munali Boys and Girls Secondary Schools, Mazabuka Girls, Matero Boys as well as Chelstone Secondary School.
“You are supplementing the efforts of the Government and your efforts are commendable,” Ms Siziya said.
“Education and training provides skills that can enhance equality and I am happy that you are
supporting education of these children.”
She said the Government alone cannot afford to adequately meet the needs of the children and hoped that ZATACA would increase the number of children under its support.
Earlier, ZATACA chairperson Chandran Shankar said the association was planning to increase the scholarships to cover more than 500 pupils in the next three years.
Mr Shankar said members of ZATACA believed that education was a key to unlock people’s potential that would enable them to contribute to economic development.
“Zambia has been a second home to us for many decades now, and as such we care immensely and are obliged to give back to the community here,” he said.
“I don’t have to mention the importance of education; education brings life into lives of people. Education brings change in a person and makes him or her embark on the challenges of the world.”
In a vote of thanks, one of the pupils, Terence Mwiinga from Munali Boys Secondary School said the scholarships would go a long way in helping the students to complete their secondary education.
He however, appealed to the association to consider extending the bursaries to university education so as many less privileged children could attend tertiary education.