As the education sector continues to grapple with challenges such as inadequate funding and infrastructure, alumni associations are stepping up to lend their support. The Chassa Alumni Association is urging the government to institutionalize alumni associations to provide sustainable support to the education sector.
According to the Association president Mathews Ngulube, alumni associations have a unique understanding of the challenges facing the education sector, having been through the system themselves stating that the ins institutionalizing of the alumni associations will make it very easy for the alumni to support the education sector.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times -ZBT, Chassa Association president Mathews Ngulube said, “The act of People wanting to give back to their former learning institutions is becoming more and more popular. Speaking on behalf of Chassa Alumni, I can say that there is a lot of zeal and passion among former students.”
The Association is calling on the government to recognize the important role that alumni associations can play in supporting the education sector. This may include providing funding, resources, and expertise to schools and universities, as well as mentoring and career guidance for students.
“At the end of the day, you can’t have everything coming from government. You need to see how you can complement what the government is doing. So it’s a very good thing and if properly coordinated, it’s something that can help the Government, “noted Ngulube.
He advised those not supporting their former learning institutions to do so adding that giving back to former institutions is part of cooperate social responsibility.
“If there are those that do not want to give back to their former learning institutions, at the end of the day it’s them to lose out. I think even religiously you are told to give and it shall come back to you. We believe that at a personal level giving back to former institutions is part of cooperate social responsibility, “said Ngulube.
Institutionalization of the alumni associations is a powerful reminder of the important role that these associations can play in shaping the future of education in the country.
