Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Health Professions Council of Zambia has with immediate effect withdrawn recognition and approval of some programmes at four universities in the country because they are not certified to operate as higher education institutions.
The decision comes after the recent pronouncement by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to effect that 30 higher education institutions are not certified to operate as such.
the institutions that do not have valid HEA certification include city university of science and technology, Luapula hub of knowledge, harvest university and Livingstone international university of tourism excellence and business management (LIUTEBM).
HPCZ senior public relations officer Chinyota Msimuko says students who are studying health programmes at these universities will no longer be recognized.
Mr. Msimuko has told journalists that the invalidity of the HEA certification means that the mentioned institutions are not regarded as higher education institutions and cannot be operating as such at the moment.
He has emphasized that HPCZ programmes can only be operated by certified and recognized higher education institutions, therefore, in line with the health professions act no. 24 of 2009 of the laws of Zambia, it is prudent that the programmes are withdrawn until such a time when the institutions resolve matters with the higher education authority.