By MAYA NTANDA –
THE COPPERBELT University Students Union (COBUSU) has urged Government to expedite the process surrounding the advertising of Government sponsored bursaries for first year students for the 2015 academic year.
First year students at the Copperbelt University (CBU) are scheduled to report this month.
COBUSU secretary general Alfred Lukwesa said delays in advertising for the bursaries would negatively affect the academic calendar.
Mr Lukwesa said the delay would negatively impact on students as the academic year would be disturbed and compressed to accommodate other plans.
He said it was important to advertise for bursaries on time so that parents and guardians would have enough time to prepare in an event that their children were not selected to be sponsored by the Government.
Mr Lukwesa said it was cardinal that first year students report for classes at the same time with returning students to avoid disturbing the academic year.
“Those whose application for bursaries will not be successful will need ample time to appeal and have their appeals attended to on time before registration and classes commence. So we would like to urge Government to advertise for bursaries as further delays would have a negative impact,” he said.
Mr Lukwesa said it was disappointing that nearly every year, the institution had to go through the devastating tribulations, despite Government being aware of the academic year.
He said Government should continue supporting the education sector as it holds the life and energy of Zambia’s economic development that would eventually improve the lives of citizens.
Mr Lukwesa appealed to Government to intervene in the issue to the help students for the benefit of the country.