Mushimba directs UNZA to allow students with arrears to write exams
Written by Millennium on July 27, 2019
NCHIMUNYA CHIDAKWA writes
@SunZambian
NEW Minister of Higher Education Brian Mushimba has directed the University of Zambia (UNZA) to allow all students owing the institution money to write their final examinations without any disturbances.
Dr Mushimba said to prevent defaulting students from sitting the final examinations was against the PF pro-poor manifesto that was aimed at making education accessible and affordable for all.
The minister was reacting to an announcement by UNZA management that several students risked missing their final examinations due to outstanding tuition fees.
He said he was disturbed when informed that as a matter of policy, UNZA barred students with arrears from sitting for examinations until they paid a significant amount towards what they owed to the institution.
He said it did not add up to let the students waste an entire academic year and only to stop them from sitting for examinations at the eleventh hour.
Dr Mushimba said management could recover outstanding balances without preventing defaulting students from sitting the final examinations by demanding for full payment at the point of results collection.
The Minister said there was need for UNZA management to allow all students to sit for exams and deal with arrears at the point of results collection.
“I encourage management at UNZA to familiarize themselves with the PF manifesto and remember that PF is a pro-poor government and working at making education accessible and affordable for all.
“To this effect, all students will now be allowed to sit for their exams,” Dr Mushimba said.
The Minister further cautioned all public higher learning institutions such as UNZA to avoid implementing policies that agitated both students and parents alike in the currrent challenging economic situation.
