Northern Technical College (NORTEC) Principal, Martin Kasonso has disclosed that the institution has recorded an unprecedented rise in student enrollment due to the government’s initiative aimed at boosting skills development across the country.

Mr Kasonso says the student population has doubled from 3,000 to 7,000 which he attributed to the Constituency Development Fund’s scholarship programme.

He has hailed the development as a great milestone and unprecedented in the institution’s history.

Mr Kasonso stated that the influx of students signifies a step forward in Zambia’s commitment to equipping its youths with the necessary skills to thrive in the job market and contribute to the country’s development.

He disclosed this during a verification visit to the institution by the Pemba Member of Parliament, Lameck Hamwaata and his team comprising the Council secretary, Director Planning and Internal Auditor from the Pemba Town Council, to assess the impact of the CDF programme on students from the constituency.

The verification process involved head counting and appreciating student’s welfare, reconciling financial records and assessing the overall learning environment and infrastructure at the learning institution.

The Pemba team has expressed satisfaction with their findings, commending the college’s state of the art equipment and dedication to student well-being.

And Mr Hamwaata has commended the implementation of the CDF scholarship programme at NORTEC and emphasized his desire to see more young people especially girls from his constituency to take advantage of the opportunity and pursue engineering skills.

“Acquiring these skills will empower them to become entrepreneurs or secure employment in the modern world,” Mr Hamwaata said.

Currently, 4,000 students from various constituencies across the country are enrolled under the CDF sponsorship with an additional 2,000 receiving financial support from the government’s TEVETA sponsorship programme.