Friday, March 29, 2024

UNZA go slow -a story of a neglected education system

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Biology Department - UNZA
Biology Department – UNZA

The UNZA go-slow underway is just the latest episode in the story of a deteriorating and neglected education system under PF Government. They have time and time again let down teachers and lecturers who are at the heart of development of our nation.

The failure of the PF Government to pay them for last terms extra load work is the result of mismanagement and lack of foresight. Extra load work takes place when a member of staff has over 75 students in a class.

UNZA currently has 24,000 students enrolled above its teaching capacity, so it comes as no surprise that a great number of staff members are engaging in extra load work and therefore require appropriate pay and benefits.

A poorly implemented student to staff ratio has meant that both lecturers, researchers and university resources are strained and evidently are unable to function in harmony under the current PF educational budget.

This situation is not only unfortunate and unfair on the staff of UNZA, who work tirelessly to provide students with a vital education and tools for their adult life, but it also seriously affects the students.

The UNZALARU go-slow strike will disrupt the educational process, even to the extent that finalists will not have their examinations marked unless the government acknowledges their contractual obligations to staff members.

Our talented young university students will be held back from attaining their degree and entering into the Zambian workforce or starting on their entrepreneurial journey if the PF Government continues to break its promises to UNZALARU.

This is a lose-lose state of affairs for all involved.

Percy Chanda
UPND- Chairperson for Labour and Social Security

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Issued by: UPND National Campaign Centre, Lusaka

12 COMMENTS

  1. This is really sad! It was bad of Sata to build a new university in his area instead of improving UNZA. I don’t blame him because he is not a graduate of UNZA.

    • I don’t think you know what you are talking about.UNZA has 24000 students and its congested,so how do you decongest it? Simple build more universities. Judging from your comment i don’t think you have been to UNZA.

    • UPND are really working.
      I have no comment. I never been to UNZA, only pass-by going to Cheston, then Airport off-we-go!!

  2. UNZA ACADEMIC STAFF NCIRCLING THEMSELVES IN FEAR OF COMPETITION FROM THE MARKET IS THE PROBLEM. THE EXECUTIVE POSITION OF VICE CHANCELLOR TO BE RESERVED FOR ACADEMIC STAFF ONLY IS THE ROOT CAUSE.

    THE SANATE COMPRISING ACADEMIC STAFF ONLY IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO STIFFLE THE INSTITUTION.

    WE NEED A RADICLE TRANSFORMATION AT UNZA AND THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR MUST BE RESERVED FOR A BUSINESS MINDED EXECUTIVE AND NON ACADEMIC STAFF MEMBER i.e. VALENTINE CHITALU SO THAT UNZA RUNS LIKE A BUSINESS.

    ACADEMIC STAFF SELF INTEREST HAS GONE TOO FAR AND LED TO SERIOUS INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS.

    WITH TAKE HOME PAY + ALLOWANCES OF ABOVE US$30,000, THE ONLY JOB THE VICE CHANCELLOR DOES IS FLYING ON DIFFERENT AEROPLANES ALL OVER THE GLOBE WITH NO TIME TO RUN UNZA –

    FUTURE BOARD…

    • It is shame that Mr. Future Board Member has spelling deficiency, but then, as the Board Member, your only qualification required is to collect meeting allowance.

    • @Future Board Member, obviously you have no clue. Was that $30 000 per month or per year. What does that give you per month if its per annum? You think a pay of over $2500 a month for a Professor is something to complain about? Only in Zambia and someone who doesnt appreciate higher education can write what you have written.

  3. UNZA ACADEMIC STAFF ENCIRCLING THEMSELVES IN FEAR OF COMPETITION FROM THE MARKET IS THE PROBLEM. THE EXECUTIVE POSITION OF VICE CHANCELLOR TO BE RESERVED FOR ACADEMIC STAFF ONLY IS THE ROOT CAUSE.

    THE SANATE COMPRISING ACADEMIC STAFF ONLY IS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO STIFFLE THE INSTITUTION.

    WE NEED A RADICLE TRANSFORMATION AT UNZA AND THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR MUST BE RESERVED FOR A BUSINESS MINDED EXECUTIVE AND NON ACADEMIC STAFF MEMBER i.e. VALENTINE CHITALU SO THAT UNZA RUNS LIKE A BUSINESS.

    ACADEMIC STAFF SELF INTEREST HAS GONE TOO FAR AND LED TO SERIOUS INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS.

    WITH TAKE HOME PAY + ALLOWANCES OF ABOVE US$30,000, THE ONLY JOB THE VICE CHANCELLOR DOES IS FLYING ON DIFFERENT AEROPLANES ALL OVER THE GLOBE WITH NO TIME TO RUN UNZA – FUTURE BOARD MEMBER

  4. UNZA needs a serious staff and academic overhaul. At the same time, Government needs to seriously re-look into the plight of this great institution with the same level-headedness employed in running political institutions. At the pace things are going, UNZA might find itself in the same commercial dowdrums of private universities with compromised enrollment standards in order to keep afloat.

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