MINISTER of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Michael Kaingu says Government is committed to ensuring that the K320 million owed to University of Zambia (UNZA) staff through retirement benefits and contractual entitlements is cleared soon.
Government has already committed K50 million to the debt but University of Zambia lecturers and researchers say it is not enough and want at least half of the money.
Dr Kaingu has since made a passionate appeal to the union executive to talk to its members to release students’ results as soon as possible so that the school calendar is not disrupted.
He said this through his spokesperson Hillary Chipango after he held a two-hour closed door meeting with University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) at his office yesterday.
“The meeting was also aimed at revisiting the stand-off between UNZALARU and management over unpaid statutory financial obligations,” Mr Chipango said.
Dr Kaingu said he is confident that the withheld students’ examination results will soon be released on the basis of Government’s assurance to UNZA academic staff.
Mr Chipango described the meeting with the union executive as cordial and successful.
And when contacted for a comment, UNZALARU president Euston Chiputa described the meeting with Dr Kaingu as cordial.
Dr Chiputa said the executive will need to brief its members before they chart the way forward.
“We will schedule a meeting with our members any day next week, and we will be able to brief the press on the way forward,” he said.
UNZA lecturers have withheld students’ examination results in protest against unpaid pension and contractual dues.
So these lectures read in the paper that we have a eurobond and feel more entitled to it than other sectors smh
Wonder when these High Learning Institutions will be self sustaining? We have to change our policies. Government should make universities be run by Professional boards.
Third world universities always complaining!
And I am truly thinking of going to work for one of them. Maybe I qualify because I am always on LT complaining. Who else is coming fro the LT fraternity? booooooooooo!