. Kaingu

By STEPHANIE KUNDA –
GOVERNMENT has partnered with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to support science and technology education in order to foster the training of less priviledged youths.
Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu said the youth would be equipped with various life skills that would enable them become productive members of the country and contribute to sustainable national economic development.
Dr Kaingu said the Government was happy with the project as the partnership with the bank would help curb the high levels of youth unemployment.
He said this during a graduation ceremony for 827 students from Northern Technical College (NORTEC) in Ndola yesterday.
Dr Kaingu said the project would not only focus on empowering the youth, but also help in acquisition of new training equipment, refurbishment, human resource development as well as construction of new infrastructure.
He said the Government was committed to empowering the youth through technical and entrepreneurial skills to improve the quality of technical education.
“The partnership between Zambia and Sweden in technology is worth noting. The ministry is impressed with the Zambia Industrial Training Academy for refurbishing the heavy equipment repair workshop with latest state-of-the-art technology.
“This will acquaint students with the latest technology which will be beneficial to the industry. The partnership will not only benefit the college but the entire nation,” he said in a speech read for him by Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority acting director, Precious Lisulo.
Dr Kaingu said all the partnerships were aimed at improving the quality of training in the learning institutions and urged more organisations to take active roles in partnering with the Government.
He, however, regretted the low levels of female enrolment in almost all the technical tertiary institutions.
NORTEC board chairperson Valentine Mwila commended the Government and other stakeholders for the support in renovating the workshop.
Mr Mwila said NORTEC was ready to provide increased access to quality training despite the insufficient infrastructure development.
NORTEC principal Victor Mulenga said since inception, the number of students had increased, indicating a positive future for the institution.