Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Education Minister Dr. Michael Kaingu
Government has tasked the interim University of Zambia (UNZA) Council to look at how the university’s financial position can be turned around.
Educational, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Minister Michael Kaingu says the transformation of the university’s financial position will require that the council works with management and staff to make decisions some of which will be painful as they will require that some unsustainable business practices are done away with.
Dr. Kaingu says there will be need to create new and significant internally generated revenue streams for the sustainable operation of the University of Zambia.
He has also urged the council to create a new image of the university to its customers who include the students and the general public.
The Education Minister says there is need for the council to make a difference in leadership capacity to drive the change the university requires to be a self sustainable operation.
Speaking at the same event, UNZA Chancellor Dr. Jacob Mwanza says the university is a premier institution in Zambia with a student population of 26, 000 complimented by 800 academic staff and 1, 200 administrative and technical staff.
Dr. Mwanza says although the university has a strong heritage as a leader in the provision of higher education in Zambia, the institution faces a critical shortage of teaching staff and infrastructure.
And Interim UNZA Council Chairperson Namucana Musiwa says the council will take time to understand the genesis of the situation that the university finds itself in and work with the entire university community and other stakeholders to arrive at practical solutions.