Friday, March 29, 2024

President Sata -Why I agree with him on increasing Higher Education Infrastructure

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President Sata

By Marko Sovi

From the onset, I’m a nationalist, Zambian at heart.

As Dr. Du Bois observes; “Education must not simply teach work – it must teach life.” The quality of debates on important national issues in Zambia both on ZNBC, social media and blogs leaves much to be desired. Education, Education, Education. Not only Education but higher education as a country must take centre stage….

It’s on the basis of the above, that I do agree with President M.C. SATA on this one, his pursuit to increase higher education opportunities through infrastructure development. Democracy is numbers, Zambia’s destiny cannot continue under the construction of the 75% uneducated voters in the name of democratic majority!! (Wish the 25% were entitled to 5 votes each, but alas!)

The Power of Education

Higher Education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate. It enables one to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal, and the facts from the fiction. Thus, liberating man from the morasses of propaganda, half truths and bias into a well informed rounded being. Higher Education is crucial both to the individual and the nation’s development; it teaches one to think intensively and critically thereby unlocking one’s ingenuity. It’s these unlocked skills, informed and knowledge minds that enriches the quality of national debates, subsequently leading to robust national development.

Certainly as Dr. Du Bois believed; Higher Education level young minds should be CHALLENGED AND CONSTRUCTED to think, even dangerously, if they were being creative, noble, timely and pertinent to the challenges of today and tomorrow. He was strongly compelled to ensuring that the future leaders, found and bred on university campuses, were challenged by the most promising minds of the time. I don’t care whether employment, but education for the development of skilled knowledge, logical debates, enlightenment and critical minds, if this be the only noble cause during his tenure; then I salute President Sata on his pursuit to increase higher education opportunities through increased infrastructure development!!

How the colonialists strategy of keeping Africans uneducated worked

One of the main failures of the liberation struggles was the focus on integration, more than the social, economic and philosophical independence of thought through massive education of the citizenry. Our History as a country is critical, because learning history of our education system both pre and post independence can not merely be an exercise in memorizing what happened in the past, the purpose of learning history is so that we will understand how and why we became the people that we are today. It is only by understanding where we came from and where we are today, that we will know what we must do, or not do, to succeed in the future. And President Sata has got it right on this one; Increasing University Education opportunities!

For example, if we did not know the history of colonialism, Slavery, apartheid, etc, we would not know that education and knowledge were denied to africans for over 246 years. More importantly, we would not understand how effective this strategy was, in perpetuating domination, exploitation and control. (The colonialists clearly understood that “knowledge is power.” And that, If you want to “hide anything from an African put in a book”, or is it the small print as in our present day realities and letters of intent!!!!). Nor would we understand how this legacy is the primary reason why Africans are the least educated, least knowledgeable, subsequently, the people with the least amount of military and economic power. Is it any wonder, this is replicated even in our country, Zambia, the illiterates are the least powerful and least influential-the proletarians….

Truth is, today, property law isn’t so much about real estate, or mineral rights, or anything tangible. Rather it’s IDEAS, “intellectual property.” And this is unstoppable. More companies are now investing more in Ideas than in careers. Commerce is now about ideas for that intellectual work product. In this new economy, the greatest threat is not the mineral wealthy but shortage of ideas and the fertile minds in which to grow them. Here I’m not talking about the entire economy, but a huge and growing chunk of it depends on products extracted from the minds of people. As a country geared for economic emancipation we should have no substitute for education. Education and work are the levers to uplift a people. When you read the quality of debates in Zambia (full of insults and mediocrity) and compare them with the educated countries like Cuba, UK, USA ,it calls for urgent development of skilled knowledge, enlightenment and critical minds of the populace.

I submit, President Sata, yes, may have his own weakness but his action to increase Universities and higher education opportunities through infrastructure development must be supported by all well meaning scholars and nationalists alike. Work alone will not do it unless inspired by the right ideals of education and guided by intelligence. Indeed, it doesn’t matter whether employment, but higher education development of skilled knowledge, enlightenment and critical minds is at the core of a civilized nation for which Zambia is destined. We can know with certainty where a country is going by the foundations we are building now. Therefore, higher education must not simply teach work – it must teach life!!

22 COMMENTS

    • I don’t support PF but on this one (Education), I Agree 100% with you MR SOVI. But Government should NOT only end at infrastructure development, instead, must construct holistic EDUCATION IDEALS AND PHILOSOPHY to lead this noble cause. Create social-economic matrix that interlink education with the industry, entrepreneurship and agriculture.
      Creativity and innovation must be promoted through national ECONOMIC AND TALENT SHOW FORUMS beamed on national TV annually, winners rewarded (Beyond the model of the annual arts council). Even Empower the winners of the best business models in each industry category through (private partnerships and the CEEC) .Government must facilitate, and create its sustainability. Indeed, Innovation and creativity through education for national development!

    • Author spot on…….Truth is many brilliant young Zambians with 6-11points fail to enter university not only due to finance but due limited university space.

  1. It would would have made sense to first refurbish the existing universities (CBU, UNZA and Mulungushi) and to pour resources into building two new first class universities preferably in Mongu and Kasama. Why Mongu and Kasama? Mongu because it’s centrally located for a public university to cater for theNorth western, western and Southern regions. Kasama is also centrally located for Luapula, Northern and Eastern Regions. What Mr Sata is doing will either end in failure or sub standard facilities because resources are been spread too thinly! Let us avoid tuntemba!

  2. Oh the sun must be shining on State house today! Someone is praising Sata for once! George Chellah take your boss some champagne this is truly a rare occasion that must be celebrated.

  3. UNZA and CBU have grown large so we need universities with special faculties. The president is right. Mulungushi is supposed to be a private public university which means its a company and must make profits.

  4. I am still for the idea for first making UNZA and CBU into world class universities then focus on developing new universities later. UNZA and CBU have a lot of space for expansion. I would rather govt. invest heavily in the two universities to renovate and improve the existing infrastructure. I am for quality and not quantity.

  5. Exactly what the article is trying to address is what others are doing. To make UNZA and CBU world class would entail closing these institutions for not less than 18 months now what do you do with the students who are in school already. Its like saying we should renovate woodlands stadium and not build Heroes stadium, for once let us be objective and support what is in the interest of all and not an individual politician’s glory.

  6. We need some statistics here. How many pupils enrol for grade one. How many sit for grade 7 exams. How many go to grade 8. How many sit for grade 9 and how many go to grade 10. how many sit grade 12 exams and how many are absorbed by Universities and colleges. When we have these statistics we will be able to determine priority areas. Is it Senior Secondary School infrustracture or University infrustracture we need.

    • The difference between logic (for managers, in which you fall) and intuition (for leaders, in which the author seem to fall) is that LOGIC is a slave of Intuition(Albert Einsteins) Leadership’s interest in vision and solutions, not statistics.

  7. Mr kabamba kalende. are u sure of ur statement? Did USA build other universities after Havard become a wolrd class university? China and japan have thousands and thousands of universities and u want to be proud for nothing over UNZA and CBU??

    • I currently studying in China now and you for your own information, China has 2 large scale projects named project 985 and project 211. You can google it.Project 985 has identified 9 top universities which receive priority in funding from the govt. and the idea is to make them top world class universities. Project 211 has 34 universities with the aim of raising research standards .

  8. Education is key. Be it Basic Education or Skills Training or Academic Research. THe dividents are quantitative as well as qualitative. There is need to remain united and focused. Keep it up!

  9. There atleast must be one public university in every province in addition to private universities. Scholarships must be given to students based on need and academic perfomances. Universities should be a pillar of innovation. Things that u use daily were made out of universities. Event something for the world to use. The computer, phone, medicines etc were invented. Research professors must be paid using grants and not government salaries. We have used it in America. No grant no job for a professor. We applaud his excelleny for this vision. Will support him when called upon.

  10. “…it (education) calls for urgent development of skilled knowledge, enlightened, and critical minds of the populace.”
    To that effect, Marko, please advocate for basic education to be upped to grade XII level (not where is now) only then will the populace be advantaged to be enlightened and afforded a knowledge base and mental skills to be critical thinkers.

  11. Placing a sign calling a place a University DOESN’T MAKE THE PLACE A UNIVERSITY AS KNOWN BY THE REST OF THE WORLD!!!!

    It is time we stopped “uku Buta!!!”

  12. The President is very right by advocating 4 the creation of higher learning institutions as well as linking the country via the Link Zambia.This is the way things ve to be mwebantu ala tuletasha bkoz he the president az managed to shame his critics.he is a statesman and patriot

  13. im not sure Sata know what he is doing but im with pipo advocating for modernising UNZA en CBU, and build 2 more , we need infrastructure as much as we need better libraries, fast and available en affordable internet , finance for exchange programs to enhance sharing of ideas. remember its all about quality than quantity, 4 or 5x 4000 capacity universities can do in the next 15yrs.

  14. What a country shall we be !Universities in each province +de link Zambia project.l c a prosperous Zambia. We nid 2 support such ventures as dis despite different affliations. Ur country z backward largely on account of huge illiteracy levels. Bravo!

  15. The Author of this article is a PF Cadre that needs prayers. First, it is not the quantity of Universities but the quality.Just look at the Quality that Unza produces and you would think twice before writing such crap.Second,Malaysia, Canada, Australia, India, Korea, Singapore,Botswana etc were all colonies before.So how did they get their education system right?.I say the Author is a PF Cadre because the PF want to stand shoulder to shoulder with Iran, Palestine, North Korea,Sudan and Cuba and expect to attract a lot of FDI from these countries.Pipo please think before commenting.The Chinese Students are all over Western World Higher Institutions of Learning & after they get back they pass on the knowledge.Kabimba wants kids to be taught in Soli.What a mess!

  16. Once majority of Zambians are educated and conscientised, current campaign strategies of false promises, violence, police bias to party in power, use of thugs to break the law on behalf of party in govt, intimidation of legitimate political opponents, defence of illegal got action (chief justice, pirate taxis, street vending) will not find support from the people. Intimidation of ECZ, ACC, Judiciary (overstaying of chikopa) by a Justice Minister will be dangerous for anyone in govt to attempt.

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