AfDB to fund technical college renovations—Minister

Government with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) will start renovating technical colleges in the country to help them increase intake and upgrade current courses Minister of Labour Grace Maseko has disclosed

Speaking during the graduation ceremony of 155 students at the Lilongwe Technical College recently, Maseko said government is concerned with the poor conditions of most Technical Colleges hence, engaging the ADB to fund the rehabilitation works.The minister could not disclose as to how much the bank is going to spend on the renovations and when the works will commence.

Said Maseko: “My Ministry has taken onboard all the concerns raised by the students as regards the condition of the college. We know that there is need to equip technical colleges with proper ICT equipment, good hostels as well as dormitories. We have sourced funds from AfDB and renovations will start soon.”

However, the Minister bemoaned the tendency by some students who remove both electrical and plumbing fittings in their hostels and classrooms saying this forces government to spend extra money.

Principal of Lilongwe Technical College Peter Njunga commended government for committing itself to rehabilitate the college and other technical colleges in the country.

“The rehabilitation that government will undertake in our colleges will help us upgrade our current courses. Apart from that, the colleges will wear a new face in terms of infrastructure development and we may increase intake,” said Njunga.

According to Njunga the college is hit by lack of instructors, the training is inadequate and the college library is almost ceremonial due to lack of books.

“Our library was designed for e-learning with about 66 computer cubicles and yet there is none. Furthermore, hostels, kitchen and staff houses are all dilapidated that they need urgent maintenance if we are to provide a conducive environment for learning,” he said.

The college has 1 600 pupils but there are plans to increase the intake to 2 000 by January 2014.