Russia Offers Zambia 135 scholarships

By Ruth Chayinda
The Russian Federation has so offered 135 scholarships to Zambian students to enable them to study abroad.

Russian Federation Deputy Director for International Cooperation, SOKOLOV ALEKSANDROVICH says the Russian Federation will increase the number of scholarships to 160, with a subsequent annual increase of 10 percent.

Mr ALEKSANDROVICH says this shows the commitment the Federation has to supporting more Zambian students on scholarships in different fields of study.

He said this when he met the Chairperson for the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board GEOFFREY SAMUKONGA who paid a courtesy call on him in Russia.

And, speaking earlier, Mr. SAMUKONGA said his visit to Russia was aimed at strengthening and renewing the bilateral relationship regarding scholarships that has been in existence since 1965.

He emphasized the importance of reviewing the existing Memorandum of Understanding to align it with the current changing environment.

Mr SAMUKONGA also highlighted several concerns regarding the scholarships that require urgent attention, including Zambian students being expelled from universities due to flouting immigration rules on visa renewals.

Other areas of concern are poor academic performance, language barriers, lengthy registration processes after their language year, and high medical fees.

This is according to a statement issued to ZNBC by the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board Corporate Communications and Customer Services CHISWELWA KAWANDA.