By FLAVIOR CHISHALA and REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE Caretaker committee and Senate of the University of Zambia (UNZA) has urged Government to consider reopening the institution.
Caretaker committee chairperson Namucana Musiwa appealed to Government to consider reopening the university in the shortest possible time.
Ms Musiwa said the Senate was opposed to the riotous behaviour of the students, saying that there was need for students to dialogue and find responsible ways of airing grievances.
A prolonged closure would reverse the gains the country has attained in education and also have negative effects on both the institution and the economy.
Ms Musiwa said the university would face delayed integration of graduates and new skills into the labour market which would ultimately affect Zambia’s human development index.
The revenue inflow for the university would reduce and make alterations of the academic calendar which may result in having one crop of students losing one year of learning.
Ms Musiwa also said the closure would also impact on the image and reputation of the university that aspired to become a world class provider of higher education.
“The prolonged closure would also have a negative impact in the university’s plans to celebrate the Golden jubilee anniversary which falls this year,” she said.
The committee assured Government of their contribution to a positive environment once the university was reopened.
Government closed UNZA indefinitely on February 4, 2016 in line with section 40 part (2) of the Higher Education Act as a result of the riotous behaviour exhibited by students.
Meanwhile, former University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) president Kelvin Hambwezya said university students should learn the art of effective dialogue while authorities should be accommodative.
Another student, Phil Mulenga said he was a mature student who had gotten four years study leave from work and he was worried that he would not be given an extension on his leave.
Mr Mulenga said Government should consider students like him who were self-sponsored and spent huge amounts of money to upgrade their qualifications.
