UPND Bweengwa Member of Parliament Highvie Hamududu has charged that the Zambian education system is on trial and has failed to bring value to the lives of ordinary people.
Mr Hamududu explained that the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University are not viable because they are run using a wrong template.
He was speaking in Parliament recently when he made contributions to a motion to adopt a report of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology titled “The Delivery of Education in Institutions of Higher Learning.”
“Why should a university Vice-Chancellor be a professor, one who cannot manage? Today, universities are led by people with enterprise. You can still put a professor with research credentials, but you need a Business Development Manager in the university because, at the end of the day, a university is a business that produces goods and services,” Mr Hamududu stated.
He said currently, the management of public universities is not in sync with the developments of the knowledge economy.
“So, should a professor who learnt how to dissect a mosquito run a university and manage human beings? While I respect a Professor who operated on a mosquito, which I cannot do, one cannot sit there and manage a university. It is not relevant. So, go there and review the policy,” he said.
Mr Hamududu said he wondered when he served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee how a university teaching students to manage institutions could come before the Committee with irregularities describing it as a management failure.
“The irregularities that we encounter in PAC are a result of management failure. It is now Parliament that is managing. We ask about imprest, which is a management issue. Should Parliament now do everything? Must we tell them how to do their documentation?” he asked.
Mr Hamududu has since called for re-engineering the management of universities in Zambia.
“For example, there is enough capacity at the CBU and UNZA to generate income beyond teaching. However, the institutions have very punitive formulae. For example, if I am a lecturer and get a project with the United Nations (UN), the institution would want to take all the income that has been generated by my brain.”
He continued, “So, the universities must change the formulae so that, for any project that a lecturer takes to the university, he or she should get 50 per cent of the income generated. Then, you will see how much money will be earned. Currently, there is a very big disincentive by management when one gets a job, and there are many jobs out there.”
He said over the years, the Zambian education system has not been practical but theoretical especially generic theory.
Mr Hamududu said the country has a mushrooming of private universities that offer Euro-centric education, which are not relevant to situation and not linked to the industry.
“Drive through Katimamulilo Road and see the industry there. Our education system must add value to what is happening there. When you go to Panganani Street, the young people there will fix anything on your car. Our education system must equally add value there. That way, you will see us create employment and produce graduates who can solve the current problems. We cannot have everyone pursuing Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees everywhere. Which business? Will you work in those countries?”
He said there is need to have qualifications that are born from reality on the ground.
“Parliament is the apex body in this country. All the 14 million Zambians chose 150 Hon. Members to make decisions for them. This House has, over the years, been failing Zambians. So, we must question what education really did to us. If education cannot make us sit together and sort out national problems, then, we should question our education, as hon. Members here.”
“Mr Speaker, look at the issue of the Constitution, for example. We cannot make a Constitution in fifty years.”
“We cannot continue the way we have been doing things. The private sector has come on board. Partner it. You can leverage on that. For example, commend the University of Lusaka for doing something good and give it 10 ha of land in Silverest and promise to do the same with Cavendish University if it met the criteria,” he proposed.
“That is the leverage. That is an incentive you would be providing. These institutions are busy running universities on top of shops next to bars so that you do not know whether you are going into a bar or a university. You call that a university?
Real, quintessent and hear, hear !! Education is only relevant in its Environment of application…adaptive and proactive!! Well put Hon. Mr. Hamududu – FOWARD!
Seeing those girls and boys running away from the police or being bundled into a police car or packing their belongings to go home instead of being in class and learning is disheartening. Everything in Zambia is breaking down. When Edgar Lungu said he had No Vision, believe me he meant it
Highvie Hamududu
You are preaching to a gang of thieves who have no clue what you talking about.
You expect Kambwili to understand you? Chama? Lungu himself has never worked in his life…. show me his CV?
In short you voted for baboons with no vision
very foolish comments by highvie hamududu….no wonder he’s not a university graduate
This is a good observation from Hon. Hamududu. Our educational system needs an overhaul. The system is ill-equipped to deal with the challenges of our modern world. There is not practicality but learning by rote memory. It’s no wonder the hon chikwanda is running the economy of this country like in dodo days
there is true quality of leadership and not just shouting pa……pa…. with no content.
Thats right,our education is just an extension of the imperialist colonialisation.Education means knowledge of self plus environment.the consequence of a good education is giving one a better understanding of his surrounding and therefore making it possible for him/her to contribute to the betterment of it.All those people you call professors are merely the best copycats in the world. they are masters of regurgitation.The less educated one in zambia is, the more potential they have to make a significant change in their environment.Now whether good or bad would be dependent on the education you give them.Alas, our education system does worse, it makes them have negative impact on the country and turns the individuals into regurgitators. Ati professor!!kwisa, just repeating nonsense
These are public-funded institutions bwana Hamududu. These are not private universities (businesses). These are to get funding from Govt and tuition from privately funded students. The sole objective of a public academic institution is to provide quality education. That is why tuition is affordable for public schools. Let’s not lose focus and compromise the sole goal. This is not to say Samukanga and Ngoma are the right chaps for these jobs – both are very useless.
A contribution worth a close a close look. However in Zambia, the problem is that any contribution from an opposition member gets opposed regardless of whether it make sense and it is the right thing to do.
SPOT ON HON HAMUDUDU. WE NEED A PARADIGM SHIFT IN OUR HIGHER LEARNING EDUCATION STRATEGY. I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE. I HOPE PF GOVERNMENT WILL NOT SHY AWAY FROM LEARNING FROM WHAT YOU SAID N PARLIAMENT AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE VERY PERTINENT ISSUES YOU RAISED.
HON. HAMUDUDU, THIS IS EXCELLENT DEBATE. THIS IS THE KIND OF PROGRESSIVE IDEAS WE NEED IF ZAMBIA IS TO MOVE FORWARD.
PROFESSORS/PHDs ARE NOT THE BEST PEIOPLE TO RUN INSTITUTIONS. IN FACT BECAUSE OF SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED MOST OF THEM ARE NOT WITH US IN THIS WORLD.
THE POINT THE HON. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IS ADVANCING MUST BE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY. WE NEED MANAGERS WITH PROVEN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS SKILLS SUCH AS MR. VALENTINE CHITALU OR HON. MILUPI OR HH TO RUN A UNIVERSITY.
WE HAVE BURRIED OUR HEADS IN SAND FOR TOO LONG PRETENDING ALL IS WELL WHEN THE UNIVERSITIES CONTINUE TO ACCUMULATE UNSUSTAINABLE DEBT AND RUNNING INTO UNBELIEVABLE CHAOS.
HON. KAINGU MUST PUT A MUST STOP TO THIS SAD SITUATION.
Chitalu and HH collected and pocketed privatisation proceeds, bwana
UPND has some smart MPs and these can lead the party to the next level and UPND should not revolve around one Rich Kachema.
Thanks Hon Minister for your contribution, hope the authorities look deeply into this
Sorry meant Honorable MP or perhaps future Minister
VC Naison Ngoma is not a professor though…even his PhD is by correspondence mune….If he joined another university, he will be a ‘Mr’ until validated…get facts flat on…. He has no publication …google is available for search by doubting Thomases…..bought a tent for 6.5 billion (ZMW6.5M), bought a restaurant for 3.4 billion (ZMW3.4) and put all its employees on CBU payroll, put full DSTV ‘buke’ in his office, and 3 other management officers….Very excellent move I suppose on tax payers’ money…lol…Public Accounts Commitee, here is your breakfast
Honorable that is a very good observation about the failure by our professors failing our education sector. I think it should also be attributed to the interference by our politicians especially those in power. Indeed we need to revamp the education system and be able to compete globally. It is sad that we have so much potential but our so called leaders keep failing and frustrating us. I hope Kaingu and his cronies have understood this and will hopefully start working on these serious issues raised by Hamududu. By the way it should be a priority that whoever wants to open up a university, should be allocated land outside Lusaka province as there too many already in Lusaka.
1. Professors and PhD holders elsewhere are running universities very well. There is just something very wrong with Zambian professors and academics who are appointed to run Zambian public universities. The so called university councils are also not doing their work. I agree that Zambian public universities need a comprehensive transformation.
2. GRZ should also do its part in terms of adequate support. This seems to be lacking at the moment. The GRZ would rather adequately support a blotted cabinet than higher institutions of learning. For instance how much does UNZA receive from GRZ for each graduate student. In RSA a university receives, from the government, not less than R100,000.00 for every registered graduate student. As a result they have proper facilities and staff are…
Very well said Hon. Hamududu
What do you expect from the Pf dunderheads? & they are now busy dividing the nation on tribal lines!
This kind of debate will not be appreciated. Lets be mature and objective in our contributions. Insults do not add but always take away from our own integrity.
@Mfumukadzi. I have said it before. Nothing to say, resort to insults! Some of these chaps make you wonder whether they have real life experience and a functioning brain
you people it is one zambia one nation
Very progressive ideas, Hon Hamududu. Hopefully government will ask you to meet and discuss your ideas further with the aim of implementing them. If government can recognise good ideas, no matter from whom, we can develop as a country.
I agree with Hon Hamududu observation that we need to change the way we manage our Universities. However I still insist that there is need for academic voice/input in the executive leadership and management decision making at these Universities.
On academic staff taking on external research, the Hon MP has lost it and clearly does not understand how research funding or staff time buyout works. If a Lecturer is employed to teach 100% of his time, funded by the tax payer, and decides to spend 20% of his time on research then the funder should pay for that 20% of his time including overheads. What we see at these Universities is academic staff taking on private research at the expense of students and on tax payer funded salaries and sometimes their institutions never see a ngwee.
I didn’t know Mr Hamududu is this intelligent.
Hr Hamumudu sir, your province is not only the major source of beef and other foods but also our electricity. Zambian’s major power generation plants (Kariba, Kafue Gorge and Iteshi teshi Dam) are all located in your region. Please give us your expostulation as to why Zesco is failing to satisfy the local demand for power because PFs explanation is ludicrous.
Zambian professors have let us down terribly as leaders and managers. Total failures
The problem with Zambians is that we are too petty to understand the basics. HH is talking about things that affect you and I. The truth is that Zambia needs a Business Manager as its Head of State. Lungu has no CEO or Company leadership experience. What does he do? He relies on Kaponya advice from the shushu unreasearched information. Talking reality for us is that no one wants to break away but people are demanding a leadership with a clear direction on development.
I challenge H.E. Lungu to address a press conference tomorrow and let us engage him and see if he will answer our genuine questions. Shushus, please tell him. We are not hiding anything but we need facts that will drive our nation to prosperity. Vote wisely come 2016.
I have always questioned the ability of our education to solve our problems. the coming of degrees has brought more harm than good. May be doctors in hospitals not in the ministry of education. They are after money
Spot on Mr. Hamudu!!
One addition though. Universities need Councils with representation from a range of stake holders. Obviously, his or her Academic credentials are one aspect as Universities need to be competent Academically. Then other personal desirable attributes that come in are people management, understanding finances, entrepreneurial skills and employability issues that must see the Universities build linkages with Industry.
Bottom line – Appoint University Managers through a competitive and transparent process and then give these Universities power plus enough funding for all your sponsored students.
Take away POLITICAL INTERFERENCE and let BRAINS run the SHOW!!!!!
You/We need to understand the context and where these Professors come from……Prof. Ngoma(CBU) Vice Chancellor has a weak academic background. He came from the millitary(ZAF) before joining the main stream academic world. He is a close friend to the Kaundas(Panji). The position he is occupying now was a solicited one. He wants to run CBU like a millitary camp. He can not even think of resigning on moral grounds because that will be the end of him financially. At the moment he is ready to die in that position unless someone uproots him. You do not need such a Boss!
such are the people we should have in gvt and not PF vuvuzelas with machetes doing the job.
Well said Hamududu.Prof ngoam should go and allow for a better person who understands human beings not guns
Hon Hamududu obviously puts across valid points but some are not reflecting reality.In our case, it may be a fair conclusion to say professors have failed to run our institutions but as @8 Kashiji says, professors elsewhere run universities. Do our professors get adequate funding and support? The argument from Honourable is completely lost when he says researchers should get 50% for their brains . Again illsaywhatiwant @13 sums it well.Let these brains leave their salaries and other overheads they exploit at varsities to establish their own independent consulting firms so that varsities can employ people who can fully commit to teaching and research for varsities. I am surprised hon Hamududu is suggesting they take up to 50%. That’s scary from a lawmaker. This trend is practised wi
This trend of doing private consultancy is practised widely by researchers while earning their full salaries and usually using other varsity facilities eg stationery, electricity, phones, transport etc and neglecting their teaching work.They could possibly get a percentage but not the 50% being suggested
Is it just the education system that is not working? Even if the system was overhauled it will not work. The environment is not conducive to producing skilled people. Attitude towards learning in some cases is not helped by the poor teaching and lack of resources. Schools are producing young adults who can hardly write or express themselves. Environment plays a huge part in all this. Lack of exposure etc. learning is not just in the classroom!
What do we expect when the government is encouraging graduates to go sell tomatoes? Look at the state of schools both primary and secondary. Edgar Lungu is busy attending functions instead of looking into the countries problems. The real issue is the people running the government themselves lack proper education. How is a grade 7 or grade 11 dropout going to be in charge of running certain sectors? Kambwili has no education and we all know he bought results and made false claims about getting a degree. Maybe he got a degree in stealing government funds. Most ambassadors abroad have no education but through blood or friendship they have these positions. They don’t realize the consequences but this is the reason the economy is going down. Education is an economic indicator to consider.
on the issue of private universities offering poor education stamdards. i think the only way to find out is to subject them to same exams and see who does better or give the graduates the same job and see who does better not just talking. pliz carry out a research and prove ur point.
Comment:you people don’t no what about!