KK counsels universities
By Allan Mulenga
Sat 17 Aug. 2013, 14:01 CAT
DR KENNETH Kaunda has advised local universities to be responsive to the changing environment. And Dr Kaunda has urged management at the University of Zambia to improve its capacity to deal with current and future challenges.
Delivering a public lecture to UNZA students at the graduation square during the first-ever open day in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Kaunda said there was need for universities locally to combine theory with vocational and holistic application.
"Just as we tried in the times of the 1960s, Zambia's universities should now be responsive to the environment of the 21st Century. To be effective, our universities must combine training and learning in theory with vocational and holistic application. We must strengthen teaching,research, and mentoring," he said.
Dr Kaunda, who is also the first chancellor of UNZA, said the university and other educational institutions needed to be forward looking by embarking on programmes that would respond to various local and global issues.
"In this, our one world, we must both learn and give. All of us need to work together to find ways forward for UNZA and other universities," he said.
And Dr Kaunda urged management at UNZA to improve its capacity to deal with current and future challenges.
"In August 1969, at the opening of the University of Zambia library, I said: 'Let this legend of self sacrifice on the part of poor people never be forgotten by generations to come. Let it remain as inspiration to all so that every good that shall come out of this building shall be to the greater glory of the people'," he recounted.
"Now, as we start the 21st Century, the message still stands. Zambia's people are UNZA's major investors. They are stakeholders. Education is a transforming experience not only for the student but reaches out to the whole society. UNZA must continue to be a major world centre of learning."
Dr Kaunda said UNZA's challenges and current learning gaps needed to be urgently addressed.
"There is high migration of staff to neighbouring economies and abroad for better packages. There is great pressure on remaining staff to provide services. In view of the large number of eligible talented potential students, UNZA and other universities are only absorbing a limited number.Families of talented students have struggled to find funds to take into private universities and places in other countries," he said.
Dr Kaunda said poor funding at the institution had made it difficult to effectively carry out programmes.
"Economic and social change have greatly affected all areas of human endeavour. Many university programmes have slowed down or delayed because of limits in various resources," he said. Dr Kaunda bemoaned rampant work stoppages and violent students' protest at the institution.
"Aggressive protests have risen due to inadequate mechanisms for dealing with mainly resource limitations facing students and staff. Sadly, some protesting students have gone to nearby roads to destroy property and the peace of members of the public, who in fact provide tax funds to the university. We also find that there are still many staff work stoppages done to get concession and improved work conditions," he said.
Dr Kaunda called for greater partnerships between the university and the private sector.
"The flame that we carried some 50 years ago is one we now hold together with you. You must nourish the torch of knowledge. Now is your time. It is your time to prepare the university for the needs of the present. You must act now in order to prepare the future. Prepare for another 50 years.The future of the University lies with you. Right now. You, my friends, are the future," said Dr Kaunda.
And education permanent secretary Dr Patrick Nkanza said over the past four decades, UNZA had expanded significantly in scope.
Dr Nkanza said the open day was aimed at showcasing the new developments for the public to appreciate the critical role the institution had played to national development.
And UNZA council chairperson Shelly Thole revealed that the institution had embarked on acquiring land from chiefdoms as way of expanding its existing programmes. Thole commended the corporate world for making the open day a reality through various sponsorships.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, PATRICK NKANZA, UNZA
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Govt urges change in financing of tertiary skills training model
By Dziko Joe Mwanza
Wed 24 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
The government has urged a change to the model of financing of tertiary skills training in Zambia from the current predominantly state-funded model to a private sector-driven one.
Giving a keynote speech on Wednesday at the launch of a book on insurance literacy, Basics of Insurance: A Zambian experience, authoured by Professional Insurance Corporation Ndola branch head Webster Twaambo, Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Education, and Early Education permanent secretary Dr Patrick Nkanza reiterated his government's willingness to partner with the private sector in the provision of tertiary education.
"World-over, skills training is largely private sector-driven.
Companies see the value in funding training institutions to provide their trained labour. In the SADC region, vocational education is largely funded by the private sector, with government playing a regulatory role. It is only this side where our tertiary education is still public sector-driven. I was looking at a Korean case; 80 per cent is private sector-funded, only 20 per cent is public-funded. We must grow beyond public sector funding of education. Zambia is one isolated case where skills training is public sector-funded. This over-reliance on public sector funding for skills training is a problem; we must diversify," he said.
Dr Nkanza also lamented the state of Zambia Insurance Business College Trust, the sole insurance college which he said had suffered from neglect.
"At tertiary level, the Zambia Insurance Business College Trust (ZIBCT), which is the only one that provides intermediate training, evolved out of the wishes of the industry. When one looks at it today, one sees an institute that has been allowed to drift to ruin I do not see why an organisation set up by the industry can be allowed to drift to ruin. I therefore challenge all industry players to look into the state of the institution," Dr Nkanza said.
In Zambia, through grants, the state funds most state universities, trade schools and colleges.
At the same occasion, Dr Nkanza said that his government was considering reviewing the primary and secondary school curriculum so that it provides for two streams; one for vocational education and the other for academic education.
"There is development of a grade 8 to 12 curriculum; there will be an academic part and a vocational path. This will require a curriculum reform which this book we are launching will contribute to," he said.
Dr Nkanza further cited lack of skills training for the low levels of youth unemployment.
"When we ask the labour experts, they tell us they can't find people with the skills employers are looking for; the rate of employment is lower than the rate of economic growth. This book will help equip young people with skills in a key industry like insurance," said Dr Nkanza
Labels: PATRICK NKANZA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, WEBSTER TWAAMBO
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Only 6% of G12 access higher education - Dr Nkanza
By Allan Mulenga
Thu 04 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
ONLY six per cent of the total number of pupils who complete Grade 12 are able to access higher education, TEVETA director general Dr Patrick Nkanza has revealed.
Making a presentation during a familiarisation meeting on the operations of Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (T EVETA) at the Ministry of Science and Technology yesterday, Dr Nkanza noted that
out of over 300,000 pupils who complete Grade 12 every year, only six per cent - translating into 14,000 - were able to access tertiary institutions.
“On the issue of training support, there is need to improve access to training because when you look at the figures here, from the schooling Grade 12 we only have three per cent accessing TEVET institutions, one per cent access other tertiary institutions, for instance education colleges, and two per cent are able to go to universities, but you see here 94 per cent of school leavers do not go anywhere,” he said.
Dr Nkanza said the scenario had led to a number of pupils enrolling at unregistered institutions.
“The issue of students enrolling at unregistered institutions is worrying that is why last year we ran adverts in various newspapers informing the public about the names of TEVETA registered institutions in the country. The idea is to alert the students about the genuine institutions,” he said.
Dr Nkanza observed that there was need for the government to formulate the national skills development plan, so as to increase the number of training institutions in the country.
“Some of the issues affecting TEVETA are that; there is need for the national skills development plan, the TEVET qualifications framework for this one we are still awaiting the decision on the memorandum from Cabinet. For the transfer of examinations from ECZ to TEVETA we started last year and we are proceeding well,” said Dr Nkanza.
And science and technology minister Dr Brian Chituwo said there was need for TEVETA to strengthen boards in all skills training institutions.
Dr Chituwo said having strong board members in place would help improve the quality of education among the skills training institutions.
“Our role as TEVETA should be to provide guidance and oversight, but there are certain boards that are not doing well. I don’t think we provide guidance in terms of financial resources. We need to strengthen the boards in all training institutions,” said Dr Chituwo.
Labels: EDUCATION, NEOLIBERALISM, PATRICK NKANZA, TEVETA
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