Evelyn Hone College Students Union (EHCOSU) has observed that the country’s current education system does not empower students to provide solutions in many areas which are key for sustainable development.

Speaking to Money FM News, Union Judiciary Chairperson Stanley Mubatsa said Students are national assets capable of helping develop the country through innovation, invention and research, but that the education system is outdated and full of theories, some of which are not applicable in modern society.

Mr. Mubatsa, who is also former EHCOSU Acting President, further observed that once students graduate, they only want to get a job, as most of them do not think of venturing into profitable businesses, or becoming employers.

He added that Zambia needs graduates who are not theorists but dependable solution providers.

“Imagine if our qualified engineers could be able to build roads and many other types of infrastructure, the country could serve a lot of resources.”

“The education system must be more practical, not theory driven in order to provide solutions. We need more students in skills training centers at the moment to help produce local solutions,” Mr. Mubatsa said.

Mr. Mubatsa said for the country to see massive development, the education system must be designed in a way that allows government to first look for solutions amongst higher learning institutions before importing foreign solutions.

He also said mandatory subjecting of secondary school leavers to Zambia National Service (ZNS) training to equip them with life or survivors skills like it used to be in the past would be a good idea.

“Many youths after completing Grade 12 only engage in illicit activities, nothing keeps them busy. The number of unproductive youths is too huge, imagine if their energy was utilized in national service. Government must consider taking this path as a way of empowering youths but also as a way of fighting poverty in our country.”

And Mr. Mubatsa called for the introduction of Economics and Commerce as mandatory subjects from primary to secondary level, saying this could help pupils know the importance of running businesses so as to help grow the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He said the economy can only improve if commerce and trade is embraced at all levels.

“Even the economy of this country can only improve if commerce and trade is embraced at all levels, some subjects in the syllabus do not add value, it’s about time that economics and commerce are introduced as subjects mandatory from primary to secondary, this could help pupils know the importance of running businesses not for the benefit of the family only but also how that helps grow the Gross Domestic Product of the country.”

“Developing this country without a shift in the education system will be impossible, governments will come and go but the problems will keep skyrocketing to levels infinite,” Mr. Mubatsa said.