06/10/2025
Laura Miti writes βοΈ
At any given moment in a country's life, there exist opportunities that present themselves to either the whole nation, or a section of it. Many times, these are, unfortunately, not quite noticed for the gate into better that they are. They are therefore not taken advantage of.
Right now that opportunity is the CDF skills bursary facility.
This is my view.
CDF is far from perfect. Its loan section is largely a money wasting disaster, through which tens of millions have been given to people with no plan and, therefore, unable to repay. Or else tonnes of money have been poured into the greedy, selfish pockets of ruling party actors and their connected. These latter have taken the loans as as a reward for their patronage, with no intention of paying back.
The bursary facility is a different matter.
That difference is not in the way it has been executed. It, too, has had multitude of complaints from, or about, deserving young people being left out. On the other hand, candidates who have been selected have annoyingly started, then left courses, midstream, that have been paid for by tax payers.
Worst of all are the fly-by-night colleges that have been set up for the purpose of being corruptly paid millions for training they have had not intention or capacity to deliver. Money very probably shared with powerholders.
All that understood and set aside, I still insist that the CDF skills bursary is one of the most significant educational opportunities Zambia has seen, in decades.
This is why:
1. For the first time ever, skills training that does not depend on academic qualifications is being offered. A young person who cannot read or write can take a practical course in building, carpentry, mechanics and others. This so excites me because, in this Zambia of ours, many people fail to go far in formal education only because of the circumstances of their birth. True, too, is that there are people just not wired for the classroom, but amazing with their hands.
2. It is offering training for skills that are desperately lacking, in short supply or frustratingly weak, nationally. An example is plumbing!!! Oh dear God, how we need plumbers whose work does not need to be redone and redone! Who know the difference between a red marked tap and a blue.
3. A clever kid who combines skill, honesty, reliability and great customer service as a builder, plumber or carpenter will, lets just say, never be poor and or need employment.
4. Skills training is a great option for so many who might not have the money to go to college or university. CDF pays for everything at great colleges like NORTEC or the Trade Schools.
I don't know about other people but me - I am encouraging young people I know to apply for CDF skills training. I am especially targeting those who will never pass GCE even if they re-write a subject 10 times.
Here is a golden chance to training that should be grabbed.
