By THANDIWE MOYO –
THE Higher Education Authority (HEA) has cautioned people and societies to desist from going to unregistered universities that are mushrooming nationwide.
Director of Accreditation and Registration under HEA Vitality Chifwempa said currently, there were only 36 registered and recognised universities in Zambia.
He said universities should have well-defined governance programme that would in turn create acceptable programmes in line with the HEA.
Mr Chifwempa said people interested in obtaining good learning standards at universities should look towards being enrolled in registered universities.
“Anyone who gets a paper or a qualification from unregistered universities will not be recognised and such institutions will not be accredited,” he said.
He said every employer was mandated to consult with the authority whether someone’s qualifications were from registered universities.
Mr Chifwempa said students and societies should understand that some people were on the verge of making money.
“People want to make money in education and for that reason they do not care about student’s welfare. It is imperative for one to get a job after completion of school but how can one be employed if their school is not registered under HEA Board,” he said.
He said the basis minimum of universities was that anyone teaching a bachelor’s programme should have not less than a master’s degree qualification to enable them teach at universities.
Mr Chifwepa said people that have continued opening universities and enrolling students without registration and accreditation will face punitive measures by the law.
He mentioned some of the universities that were registered in Zambia as Cavendish, Rusangu, DMI-ST-Eugene, Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia Open, Lusaka Apex Medical and Zambia Catholic Universities among others.
Mr Chifwempa said it was not fair for students who register at unregistered universities to spend huge sums of money without realising benefits.