Govt, varsities need constructive dialogue - ZANEC

GOVERNMENT, university management and students need to structure a proper way of engagement to avoid premature closures of public Universities, Zambia Nation Education Coalition (ZANEC) executive director George Hamusunga has said.

Mr Hamusunga said the continued strained relationship existing between the Ministry of Higher Education and university management was hindering the growth of tertiary education in the country.

He said the government and university management need to structure a way of engagement to have constructive dialogue for the benefit of the student and the education sector in the country.

He said this yesterday at the launch of the Education First Campaign at the University of Zambia in Lusaka.

Meanwhile, Mr Hamusunga has called on Government to revise the loan and scholarship scheme, saying in its current state, it lacks an effective communication strategy especially in rural areas.

However, Ministry of Higher Education Permanent Secretary Mabvuto Sakala said all stakeholders should take time to familiarise themselves with the loan and scholarship Act of 2016 so as to avoid acting on wrong information.

He said the Loans and Scholarship Scheme's intention was to improve access to university education in the country and that government was ready to engage with university management and all stakeholders.

He delivering quality education within the prevailing competitive globe environment was a mammoth task that could not be left to the government alone.

Speaking at the same event ZITUKULE Consortium Board chairperson Joseph Mwale said the loans and scholarship scheme needs to be re-interrogated, stating that in its current form it was self-defeating the good intention of the government.