By JUDTH NAMUTOWE –
THE Zambian Open University (ZAOU) has praised Government’s continued efforts towards enhancing human resource development in Zambia.
ZAOU Vice chancellor Professor Mutale Musonda said Government’s efforts have created an environment which has supported the establishment of several schools, colleges and universities, both public and private.
He said Government efforts towards enhancing human resource development over the years, have been many and varied, and need to be commended.
“Without any doubt, ZAOU is a beneficiary of these efforts which have witnessed a significant increase in the number of people that have acquired qualifications at different levels of study,” Prof Musonda said.
Prof Musonda said this during the ZAOU seventh graduation ceremony at the Olympic Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka last week.
The vice chancellor, however, said that these efforts need to be accompanied by corresponding, and deliberate policies tailored to create sufficient employment and an environment that can support entrepreneurship in Zambia.
“Such policies will not only render credence in the pursuit of higher education but also go a long way in reducing the brain drain,” he said.
Prof Musonda said human resource development in Zambia, witZambian resources and sacrifices, should be used to develop Zambia.
He said the more skilled Zambians were retained, the more credibility and legitimacy could be associated with the Government human resource development efforts and policies.
Prof Musonda noted that demand for higher education among Zambians was quite high but it remains unsatisfied because there were few institutions.
But that the Government efforts to address this challenge were on-going as evidenced by the environment it had created to enable the establishment of private universities and colleges, and infrastructure development for new universities across Zambia like the Robert Makasa which was nearing completion.
He said the existing public institutions of higher learning were not able to absorb the high student numbers in need of corresponding qualifications offered by such institutions.
Education all over the world is an expensive prospect and in recognition of this fact, Government has, over the years continued to financially support students at higher institutions of learning who cannot afford to pay the fees, through a bursary scheme.
“However, this support is only made available to those pursuing study programmes at public learning institutions.
Students pursuing study programmes at private colleges and universities do not benefit from this well and progressive policy,” he said.
Prof Musonda said Government’s position was a source of concern considering that both private and public institutions of higher learning were engaged in human resource development for the country, and the labour market, adding that Government support was essentially meant for Zambians that could not afford the fees.
He has since appealed to Government to reconsider its position on this policy to ensure the bursary scheme is also availed to students pursuing study programmes at private colleges and universities.
Prof Musonda said such a policy reform would denote equity and fairness in the distribution of public financial resources in the education sector.