DELAYED PAYMENT OF STUDENTS ALLOWANCES – COBUSU

THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION – COBUSU PRESS RELEASE: DELAYED PAYMENT OF STUDENTS ALLOWANCES Education is the greatest weapon you can use to change the world. However in Zambia, education is no longer a tool to change this nation but it is now rather a privilege for the rich few and not a right for everyone.

We wish to bemoan the low levels of education in this country and the government through the ministry of education should give this sector the much needed attention. Since school opened at The Copperbelt University on 27th May, 2014 we have not been paid our project and accommodation allowances and we are now being evicted from the boarding houses because we are unable to settle the rentals.

As students we have patiently waited for accommodation and project allowance since MAY 2014 and our survival has been by the grace of God. Project and accommodation allowance should be credited in term one when it is needed the most but until now nothing seems a to becoming from the government. As COBUSU we have engaged all necessary stakeholders both the ministry of education and management severally to dialogue and resolve this issue amicably but nothing seem to come to fruition but rather politics of intimidation and threats.

As students our call to have the accommodation and project allowance cannot be overlooked over other needs but rather be first priority As cobusu we would like to appeal to The Ministry of Education to consider payment of student’s allowances as soon as possible and this shouldn’t make students act antagonistically due to delay.

Lastly we would also like to appeal to the government through The Ministry of Education, vocational training and early child hood, to expedite reintroduction of bursary scheme to diploma students at universities rather than sing about this scourge during times of campaigns. Besides, despite attaining 50 years of independence 76 percent Zambians according to statistics continue to live in abject poverty and as such the majority of the students populace cannot afford to pay the tuition fees and hence the need for bursary. HUMPHREY MILANDILE MWENYA THE GENERAL SECRETARY-COBUSU cc. STUDENTS