The Mansa Municipal Council has given the Copperbelt Professional College up to 30th April 2024 to correct the current students living and learning conditions before legal action is taken against the institution.
This was during a site visit conducted by the Local Authority, led by the Mansa Mayor and District Commissioner. The purpose of the visit was to verify reports made by the students being sponsored by the Bahati and Mansa Central Constituency Development Fund at that institution.
The students reported that;
– The Copperbelt Professional College did not have capacity to train them especially those selected to acquire a driving
license for heavy duty vehicles as the institution did not have vehicles;
– The provided hostels for both male and female were in an insanitary condition; and
– Since the opening of the school year, the school administration did not provide course schedules leaving students to
wonder about the course activities.30th April, 2024
While at the school, the Mansa District team accompanied by the Mufulira Municipal Council staff toured the facilities and established the following;
– The college does not have vehicles to be used for practice for students selected to attain a skill in driving;
– The College does not have a computer lab for students selected to pursue computer studies;
– The Institution does not have sufficient beds for all their students in boarding resulting in some sleeping on mattresses
on the floor;
– The boys’ hostels were in an insanitary condition with a broken-down plumbing system, poor waste management and poor
maintenance of the building;
– The course schedules were not distributed to the students and the students were only told when it was time for an activity such as driving written exams
In a closing meeting with the Copperbelt Professional College administration, the Mansa Mayor, Njikho Musuku stated that the Local Authority has a mandate to ensure that all resources under the Constituency Development Fund are being utilised according to the intended purposes resulting in the visit by the team.
“The money that we have paid at this school for youths to acquire a skill demands that all the 220 Mansa youths enjoy that service from you and that when they come back home, they will be able to improve their lives”, he said.
Mr. Musuku added that all service providers in the education sector should market and present their institution in a manner that there will be no discrepancy when physical checks are made.
And the Mansa District Commissioner, Ireen Chivweta expressed disappointment at the general welfare of the Mansa sponsored youths at the College as it was established that so far, the students have only learnt the theory parts of the lessons but had not participated in any practicals since the opening of the school year.
Mrs. Chivweta said the Mansa District team will continue to conduct such check-ups at all the institutions where Mansa Youths are being sponsored to ensure that they are enjoying the service being paid for and to hold the various institutions accountable for the monies paid.
Meanwhile, the Copperbelt Professional College Executive Director, Mr. Likando Nalishebo, acknowledged the challenges being faced by the students at the school and committed that the institution was in the processing of correcting the situations.
He committed that through the metal fabrication department at the school, beds will be fabricated and made available to all the students by the given timeline.
He also said that the school was in a process of partnering with one of the driving schools in the district which already had the required vehicles.
