The University of Zambia (UNZA) has a debt of over K380 billion and the Government has asked the University Council to help resolve the numerous problems facing the institution.
Presenting a ministerial statement on the status of UNZA and the Copperbelt University (CBU), Education Minister, DORA SILIYA said as of April this year, UNZA had a debt of K380.7 billion, mainly related to personal emoluments.
“This situation requires immediate attention as it is not prudent to continue to defer the payment of these outstanding bills as most of them arise out of non-remittance of contributions to statutory bodies and non-payment of terminal benefits to retired and deceased employees,” Ms Siliya said.
She said much as it was appreciated that it was the responsibility of the Government to support universities, the mandate had now been given to the University Council.
Ms Siliya said the council which was recently put in place should find better ways of resolving the problems at the institution.
She said the 2009 Budget for UNZA was K447.2 billion out of which K113.7 was Government contribution and the remainder of K333.5 billion was from internal resources.
“Out of this total budgetary requirement, K266.7 billion is for personal emoluments, representing 60 per cent of the total budgetary requirements while K56 billion, representing 12.5 per cent was also budgeted to settle part of the outstanding bills,” Ms Siliya said.
As such, UNZA was left with K125.5 billion of the budget for recurrent departmental charges and capital expenditure.
In the 2009 estimates of revenue and expenditure, the Government provided K139.1 billion to cater for both personal emoluments and recurrent departmental charges.
Ms Siliya said the council could revise tuition fees if the move would help improve the operations at UNZA.
She said this in response to a question by Luapula MP Peter Machungwa (PF), who argued that the tuition fees at UNZA were extremely low.
Ms Siliya told the House that she was happy that after the month-long strike, the situation at UNZA had normalised.
With regard to the CBU, she said the situation was normal with fewer disturbances.
[Times of Zambia]
Another nonsensical headline, brought to you by the one and only LT!
Don’t increase tuition fees. Education is a right, so don’t deprive young people of their right. Let govt step up to this challenge. We only have a few universities in this country and you are failing to fund them!
Atleast Dora is doing her job. Keep it up madam and try to reduce that debt.
Hmmmmm…………..K380 Billion nkongole
#3. What job has Dora done appart from presenting those same figures which the previous minister presented last year? She should find money to offset the debt. Thats when people will say she is working.
another excuse for students to riot!just how high do they expect fees to be? the lowest fees at unza are about k3m, isnt that high enuf? and how much does an average zambian earn anyway? can they afford unza? they need to increase funding to these instituitions. these mps’ are probably comparing the fees at unza to those in uk where they takes their kids
WHAT????
TUITION TOO LOW?
Tuition for a self sponsored student is about ZMK 4M per semester for Zambian Students and about US$ 4000 (ZMK 20,000,000) for foreigners.
Considering UNZA’s extremely low rank in Africa (61) and Worldwide (6,792), it is just too damn expensive.
The Govt should provide more fund to the University so that It could reedem itself and develop systems of generating revenue through research, consultancy, development and endorsement of academic papers, increase enrolment etc…
UNZA’s problems are self-inflicted. There is a very bad work culture that needs changing. Which ever way you look at it, that bill will never be offset now, riots will continue and the comedy will go on. Change in mentality (attitude) is all it takes.
#6 pls note that it’s Dr Oranges (Machungwa) – PF who’s supporting the hike in fees… So let’s support it. #5 – At that rate, u will never appreciate anything in life. It would be wiser if u died.
Very sad indeed. I thought UNZA was run by intellectuals. Government must intervene as UNZA contribute immensely to economy of Zambia by producing graduates. Na ba chakolwa ok.
#8. I agree with you that the problems at UNZA are self-inflicted. Imagine an UNZA has a labour force of 3500. Out of this number, only 350 are lectures who are core to the business of the institution. The rest are secretaries, farm workers, administrators, cleaners, messengers (mail runners), uncountable number of accountants, nurses etc who are on UNZA payroll. I can tell you that right now I am at a university here in australia and I only see 1 cleaner who is part time, no secretary (each lecturer will type his own work), 1 honest accountant thats all. So you can imagine the wage bill at UNZA because of so many people who does not do anything.
From my point of view,Dora Siliya is an example of how successful one can be,I’ve been following her carreer progress & she’s a very brilliant woman,she try running for the presidency.The government should invest more on improving the starndars at UNZA.
#11. I hope you will be around to see Dora’s downfall after 2011.
#11
If you consider success as ignorance, selfishness, political scandals, corruption etc.., then she is very successful.
I just can’t wait for 2011 when MMD falls.
It’s very sad indeed to see that many of you on this blog are haters,you know life is very tough pa ZED ka,people make mistakes,& hers should be pardoned too,i still think her a brilliant woman,I will be around by 2011 and @ the moment the MMD is the only party which is strong enough to Zambia to the next level,they only need to change their choice of a candidate as RB is too old.
Following “Presenting a ministerial statement on the status of UNZA and the Copperbelt University (CBU), Education Minister, DORA SILIYA said as of April this year, UNZA had a debt of K380.7 billion, mainly related to personal emoluments“, I want to believe that the money mentioned here was calculated in the recent Auditor General’s office audits that have been or are still being done at UNZA by the Deputy AG and her team.
If this is so, I hope Edu. Minister Dora Siliya will push for 25% education sector allocation in the upcoming 2010 National Budget. Once this is done fiscal measures must be put in place by the new UNZA council to better things.
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Psalm 16 + KJV Bible:
8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Focus of UNZA and CBU including Mulungushi University must be shift to research based with links to the Industry across the whole country.
Also, student job centres for parttime and vacation employment must be opened at the above mentioned university to assist the companies advertise what they have to offer while this should give students opportunities of raising tution and living expenses money.
I believe there are a lot of fast-food outlets in Kabwe, Kitwe and Lusaka where students can work on part time to raise money while shops like shoprite can give students stock taking jobs at it happens in South Africa.
All the best to our universities and schools.
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Psalm 16 + KJV Bible:
8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Balikwisa elyo inkongole shaleilapo pamulu. Thats why they say you dont have to be an accountant to run businesses, same goes with presidency, you need not to be a degree holder to become one.
#14 NOBODY HATES DORA. THEY ONLY HATE WHAT SHE HAS DONE AND GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT. TO DAY GRZ WANT TO EVICT GEORGE MPOMBO FROM HIS GRZ HOUSE. AND YET THEY NEVER EVEN TRIED TO DO SO ON DORA
I think we should change our constitution to include a first year of the president to be a probation period after which a motion can be passed or have atleast half of the registered voters signatures to impeach the president. How can we let the driver of the car get off course and say we will get rid of him after a thousand miles. if the driver doesnt know where is going get him out. Alternatively we should make it mandotory that the govt is a coalition of the top two parties. Otherwise am planning on getting starting on a new country jst need to find unclaimed land or disputed land.