Zambia: The youths of the Luapula Province have asked the administration to construct a public university. The demand came after the government announced free education for the students of Grade 1 to Grade 12.
The youngsters of the province believe that facilitating higher education is also important for the people of the province. The youngsters have shared that they are facing challenges in accessing higher education after completing their school.
The province does not have a higher learning institution, which means that students who want to pursue college education have to move away from their homes. According to the youngsters, if a university is constructed in the province, it would be cheaper to pursue further education.
The Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces of Zambia have universities where youngsters can get higher education. However, the universities are very far from the Luapula Province. The travel and transport is also very costly, a situation that can be rectified with the construction of a university
Mambwe Mambwe, a youth from Mansa district has expressed his concern on the situation. The youngster is currently farming on family land, however he said he wanted to pursue a course in purchasing and supply.
He claimed that he would rather do a Programme in agriculture to help him to acquire a skill to develop his family land.
Emmanuel Musama, another youth from the province said that the youngsters should be allowed to choose the kind of university that is constructed in the province.
Musama further noted that public universities are affordable. The construction of a university would motivate many people who are willing to pursue tertiary education.
With the new university, the students don’t have to worry about the expenses of the education.
Another youngster from the province Hilgard Chabala also advocated for the construction of the university. She noted that having a University will benefit students who want to go for higher education.
At the same time, the university will create employment opportunities for the community.
Chabala stated that people who are unemployed could find employment as a University comes with a number of job opportunities.
Plans to establish a public university in Luapula province were seen following the efforts to construct the FTJ University.