Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Plc has awarded 15 students with scholarships to study in South Africa at the University of Pretoria under the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment.

The students drawn from the company’s Trust Schools in Chingola and Chililabombwe were initially sponsored by KCM to study A’ Levels in ICT, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics at Nchanga Trust Secondary School in Chingola and Simba International School in Ndola in preparation for entry into international universities.

KCM General Manager for Corporate Services Howard Chilundika said before the departure of the students on Sunday 25th January, 2015 at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola that the company was happy to sponsor the students as the training will equip them with the knowledge and expertise to be exceptional engineers who will ultimately serve the country in various capacities.

Mr Chilundika said the country was in need of engineers especially in the mining industry and the students will bridge the gap once they graduate and come to work in the sector.

“It’s not about how much it costs to send them to universities. For us, we just want to see that these students are educated. It’s part of our learning and development programme. This is also one way in which we compliment the Government in the education sector and employment creation as they will be employed in the sector upon completion of their degrees.” He said.

The KCM scholarship and sponsorship program commenced in 2007 with an allocation of 40 scholarships to cover the employees’ dependents and the best students from the Copperbelt University and University of Zambia

“Since 2007, the company has awarded over 300 scholarships under this initiative with a total of 93 under the employee scholarship, 27 under the dependants scholarship, 47 under the public scholarship, 32 at international universities, 62 under the A-Level Programme and 56 at the KCM Trust Schools. Sponsorship was initially limited to Mining and Engineering fields but has now been extended to include business related disciplines.” Mr Chilundika added.

And 20 year old Lukonde Musenge the only female student in the group thanked KCM for the scholarship saying it was a relief on the part of the parents as it would help them to sponsor other siblings to schools.

“The company has lifted off the financial burden from our parents. For example, I’m going to study Electrical Engineering for four years. The money that they could have paid for my education will be put to other use. They can pay for my young brothers and sisters’ school fees, use it for building, the list is endless. We are all very thankful to KCM.” She said.

KCM offers scholarships to study at the best International Universities in Australia, in India at VIT University with a total of 29 students pursuing Bachelor of Science in Engineering, in Namibia at UNAM with 3 female students studying medicine.

The 15 students will study Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Geology and Chemical Engineering