Inonge Wina directs Education Ministry to revamp JETS in Schools

ACTING President Inonge Wina has directed the Ministry of Education to revamp the Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) in schools.

Mrs Wina said it is important to generate future engineering talent, particularly that JETS provides an opportunity to engage students in a variety of educational programmes that could increase their awareness of engineering.

She said this during the grand finale of Nyamuka Zambia at Radisson Blu in Lusaka on Wednesday. Nyamuka Zambia is a business plan competition which links small with medium-scale businesses so as to encourage entrepreneurship.

“It is high time, as a country, to open the students’ minds to their own career possibilities by removing social barriers and negative attitudes about engineering,” Mrs Wina said.

She said this can help build a strong foundation in entrepreneurship development by making sure that engineering programmes respond to the needs of local entrepreneurs.

Mrs Wina also observed that entrepreneurs have shown willingness to share their expertise and experience to help lift those coming up behind them.

“My Government believes that it is the responsibility of all of us to build the future of our nation through an entrepreneurial culture and attitude that is capable of taking risks and exercising leadership,” she said.

The acting President commended Nyamuka Zambia for initiating a programme that aims to foster a community that values innovation and entrepreneurship.

And Mrs Wina said economic challenges that Zambia is currently going through should be looked at as an opportunity for all Zambians especially, entrepreneurs to work harder.

“This should also encourage the citizens not to deviate from the development path government has set for itself,” she said.

Mrs Wina said entrepreneurship development is one of the ways of fostering economic empowerment in order to make life more meaningful for all Zambians.