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Zambia lack political will on education, says Maureen

Zambia lack political will on education, says Maureen
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Thursday, April 30, 2009 6:20:09 PM

FORMER first lady Maureen Mwanawasa has observed that Zambia lacks political will to meet citizens’ needs in education.

During the official launch of Intermarket Securities Limited (ISL) Children’s Unit Trust Fund in Lusaka on Wednesday, Maureen cited inadequate infrastructure for education at all levels, insufficient number of trained personnel and insufficient budgetary allocation to the education sector as having resulted in families failing to support their children to school.

“Having said this, it is important to note that for educational needs to be adequately met, many innovative ideas must come into play as a way of solving the challenge of the high cost of educating our children,” she said.

“The solutions should address Africa’s educational crisis of affordability, uneven distribution of qualified teachers and unequal access to learning resources and above all ensuring that the human resource in education is exposed to good conditions of service and better remuneration.”

Maureen also said the country should stop complaining about the current global economic crisis but use the opportunity for innovation and growth to rise above the current environment.

“Such a step requires a revolutionary approach to ensure that our country can brave this global crisis. Such an economic revolutionary approach shall require a people who are well informed through education in order to meet the aspirations of the time we are living in,” she said.

She also commended the introduction of ISL Children’s Unit Trust Fund, saying in view of the unpredictability in the global dynamics, the education of children should not be left to chance.

“The ISL Children’s Unit Trust Fund can contribute to lightening the burden of educating our children and investing in their future,” said Maureen. “The education of our children and grandchildren should be seen as an investment into our continued existence as the human species rather than a burden.”

Earlier, ISL managing director Subhrendu Chatterji explained that ISL was an investment fund whereby parents could invest money for their children’s future.

Chatterji said ISL, which was a subsidiary of Intermarket Bank, had introduced a new investment product in addition to the current ones offering of unit trusts and share trading following the recent announcement by Sabre Capital to inject US $10 million in the firm.

“We are in the processing of investing in a very good unit trust management system and that will help support in delivering services like this one to our clients,” he said.

Chatterji said Sabre Capital was a private equity and management firm that had brought with it a lot of experiences in securities, capital markets and managing unit trusts.

Labels: EDUCATION, MAUREEN MWANAWASA, SABRE CAPITAL WORLDWIDE

posted by MrK @ 5:21 PM