Govt. increasing student bed space in varsities, colleges

President Michael Sata today revealed that government has embarked on an ambitious construction programme aimed at addressing the shortage of student accommodation in public universities and other institutions of higher learning in the country.

Speaking today when he officially opened the fourth session of the eleventh National Assembly, President Sata disclosed that under the ambitious construction programme, 4,160 student bed spaces will be constructed at the University of Zambia while 3,200 will be constructed at the Copperbelt University.

Other high learning institutions to benefit from the ambitious construction programme of student bed spaces are Mulungushi University with 1, 280 bed spaces while 960 bed spaces will be constructed at Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce.

The Head of State said the construction of the student bed spaces will be done under the framework of direct budget support and public private partnership.

Meanwhile, President Sata said government has completed the construction of 41 schools out of the 84 targeted secondary schools.

He said government has achieved 41 percent completion of the construction of secondary schools across the country while 43 other secondary schools are at
various stages of construction.

During last year’s official opening of the third session of the 11^th National Assembly, President Sata re-affirmed government’s commitment to establishing at least one university in each of the ten provinces.

Today in his key note address, President Sata said construction works of the Robert Makasa, Paul Mushindo and Palabana universities are on course and progressing on well.

He further disclosed to the house that additional infrastructure is being put at Chalimbana, Mukuba and Kwame Nkhrumah universities respectively.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sata has directed Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Childhood Education John Phiri to expedite the building of schools and universities ear marked for construction.

The Head of State instructed Dr. Phiri to ensure that the ministry starts the process to operationalise institutions which are about to be completed.