Zambian student in Czechia spotlights scholarship benefits, by Beatrice Chabaya

“Studying in Czechia means a lot to me,” says Yaliwe Nkhoma, a Zambian student studying in Czechia under the Czech Republic’s scholarship programme.

For years, the Czech republic and Zambia have enjoyed a strong partnership, collaborating on various projects to drive progress and prosperity in both nations.

At the heart of this cooperation is education, a sector that Czechia has generously supported through its development program, which has been going on since 2010, and the education sponsorship since 2020.

This partnership perfectly aligns with Zambia’s Vision 2030, which aims to transform the country into a middle-income nation, as well as help the southern African country keep pace with the developing world.

Head of cooperation at the Czech embassy, Mr Milan Kalcu, said Czechia recognizes the transformative power of education, which is why it has made it a focal point of its cooperation with Zambia.

Despite not having an active direct line of communication with the Zambian government on the program, working with Zambian universities and colleges has for so many years been beneficial for both Zambia and Czechia, according to Mr Kalcu.

By investing in education, Czechia is helping to equip Zambians with the skills needed to drive economic growth, promote good governance, as well as improve research capacity and skills, while Czech universities gain more knowledge in return on things such as forestry in Zambia, the energy sector, community development and African history, among others.

Czechia’s education assistance has focused on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET), particularly in areas such as agriculture, ICT, food safety and engineering, with their biggest support or resource allocation being toward rural and community development through the agri-food sector.

These sectors are crucial for Zambia’s economic diversification and reduction of over-reliance on copper.

“Annually, 25 to 30 students are offered scholarships to study masters and post doctoral degree programmes,” Mr Kalcu revealed.

Because of its quality education, Czechia has also been attracting students on self-sponsorship programmes.

“This is very crucial. It also helps in having active international cooperation in education and research necessary to keep Zambia at pace with the developing world,” Mr Kalcu said.

One of the Zambian students being sponsored by the Czech government is Yaliwe, who is studying agri food systems and rural development.

“I’ll start with the application process. While every application process has its challenges, I found Czechia’s scholarship program to be well-organized and transparent.

The Embassy’s communication was excellent, guiding me through each step. The required documents were straightforward, and the staff were helpful throughout, till we got our visas,” she explains.

Yaliwe commended the efficiency and effectiveness of the Czech government’s education system, describing it as highly efficient. “As international students on scholarship, we receive exceptional attention and support.

The people here are knowledgeable and accommodating, making the transition really easy,” Yaliwe says.

“Honestly, I have no complaints. I am grateful to Czechia for this opportunity.

The journey has been smooth and I’m grateful for the opportunity. The fact that we can learn in English is a plus actually.

If someone came to me to help them apply, I would gladly help them, because it’s a good deal.” She also revealed that the scholarship offers a chance to further one’s studies, even up to PhD level.

Now 25, Yaliwe is in her final stages of her masters degree course.

“This opportunity means the world to me. It has shown me that nothing is impossible,” she says.

Czechia’s help goes beyond scholarships, and a great example is the Kashitu School currently under construction with support from Czechia.

The Czech embassy recognized that sponsoring education scholarships alone was not enough, hence adding support to community schools to improve education standards at a lower level.

Late 2023, Czech Ambassador Pavel Procházka officially opened a carpentry and metal fabrication workshop in Kashitu, Zambia.

The workshop, built over three months by Czech civil engineers and architects, with the help of local volunteers, has served as a platform for the construction of a secondary school in Kashitu.

Kashitu School Director Boniface Mamfunda thanked Czechia, its partners and volunteers for supporting the community’s education project. “We are very grateful for the service rendered by Czechia partners and volunteers.

They have managed to construct two infrastructures. The first one is the workshop for carpentry and metal fabrication.

The second building is the family house for the school caretaker. Later, it might be for the school teacher,” said Mamfunda.

The educational projects in Zambia being supported by Czechia prioritize practical learning, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application.

For instance, a project in rural areas has taught local farmers sustainable farming methods and provided modern tools, enhancing food security and income.

This program has opened doors for Zambians to acquire advanced degrees, contributing significantly to their country’s development.

Czechia’s support to the Zambian education system aims to improve sustainable development, by having educated professionals throughout all sectors.

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