School Leavers graduate the Enhanced Road Maintenance Course

Thirty students out of the thirty three enrolled for the school leaver’s course managed to pass while the remaining three failed and only went away with certificates of attendance.

The thirty students were given certificates in Enhanced Road Maintenance Course using Labour Based Methods.

These students underwent an extensive three month course of which two months were spent on site.

The graduating students expressed happiness at the course with the knowledge they have gained they are able to perform in the industry.

Best Student, Alex Bwalya said he and his fellow students have mastered the skilled which they gained.

“The programme was very educative and with the knowledge we have gained I feel we can perform well as small scale contractors,” he said. “we have mastered the skill and we will perform well in the industry even though construction is a very challenging business.”

Meanwhile, the best female student who emerged third overall in class, Memory Phiri, said she was ready to take up the challenge of road construction.

“I am very happy and excited. This was a very challenging job but hard work and doing my level best got me this far. I am prepared to take up the challenge,” she said.

Only five female students had enrolled and all five managed to pass.

And during the graduation ceremony of the students, NCC Principal Mr Francis Mwape congratulated the students for working hard.

He further urged them to work hard and ensure that all the knowledge that they had gained was put into practice.

“as NCC we would like to see

The students selected were all school leavers from Lusaka and Central Provinces of Zambia. The 13 weeks course ran from March 5, 2007 to June 1, 2007.

 The objectives of this course were:

1. To introduce labour based methods of road maintenance and rehabilitation
2. To introduce trainees to enhanced road maintenance operations, spot gravelling and culvert and drainage construction
3. To enhance the capacity of small scale contractors in technical, managerial and supervisory skills.

The main developmental objectives of labour intensive works among others include:

i.                     Employment Creation

ii.                   Poverty alleviation

iii.                  Improvement in the accessibility to remote areas of the country

iv.                 Improvement in the transportation of agricultural inputs and products.