Samuel Mbewe
The increase in constituency development fund has proved to be a game changer not only in improving the lives of people but also giving an opportunity to some youths achieve their tertiary education.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Garry Nkombo said there has been an overwhelming response from the youths applying for skills empowerment and bursaries under the CDF.
He said the country is now grappling with unruly youths in communities known as junkies and the situation could be addressed by the skills empowerment that can be acquired through CDF bursaries.
“We have seen an increased number of applicants for bursary skills component under CDF, something we are happy with because we know that this will reduce the challenges of employment among our youths in communities,” said the minister.
The Minister noted that youth who had no opportunity to attain tertiary education have been given an opportunity to do so through the skills empowerment bursaries.
Mr. Nkombo also observed the mushrooming of skills training centers have been registered or opened but not offering quality trainings.
“Some of these skills training centers are not offering quality education as expected but are there to just get money from the students which he said such institutions should be looked into by the Higher Education Authority” said Nkombo.
Among the tertiary courses offered to students include carpentry, Bricklaying, electrical, catering amongst others. He said these courses will help youth to sustain themselves rather than waiting for a collar job.
Early this year, Minister of Local Government Garry Nkombo with immediate effect directed the shut-down of 2 Lusaka Based Skills Training Institutions; Vavika Academy and Salford, for operating under unsanitary conditions.
The Minister who led a team of Local government and TEVETA officials on an inspection tour to the erring institutions further ordered that the named institutions cover the cost of repatriating the CDF sponsored students back to their homes.
The Minister further echoed concerns that the local authorities who sent the students to these skills training institutions did not do a proper due diligence to ensure that they had the capacity.