26 August 2009
MULUNGUSHII University needs K56 billion to complete its infrastructure development programme, vice-chancellor Vernon Chinene has said.
And Nkrumah College of Education principal, Kedrick Longwe has said the institution is set to finally transform into a university.
Briefing a Parliamentary watchdog committee on Education, Science and Technology chaired by Matero Member of Parliament, Faustina Sinyangwe yesterday, Professor Chinene said the institution was undertaking works worth K106 billion.
"We have so far spent over K33 billion and we still need more money. It is gratifying to note the political will from the Government," Prof Chinene said. He also said he was happy that enrolment was now improving because the university had continued with its sensitisation campaigns.
Prof Chinene said the key challenge the institution faced was how to overcome the widely-held perception that a public university should not charge economic fees. He defended the fees the Mulungushi University was charging saying it was a Government policy that the institution operates as a self-sustaining entity.
He, however, said he expected change in the 2009/2010 academic year. The university charges K27 million per year for tuition and boarding fees. A total of 211 academic and support staff have been recruited and have already started teaching at the institution.
The academic staff include two Ethiopians, two Nigerians, two Indians, a Zimbabwean and a Canadian. Prof Chinene also said the institution was negotiating partnerships with some Malaysian universities under the Triangle of Hope Initiative.
He said the Malaysians were expected in the country this monthend to discuss joint venture opportunities facilitated by the Zambia Development Agency. Prof Chinene said the institution's partnership with Konkola Copper Mines under a memorandum of understanding between the Government and the mining company was still in place.
"However, Konkola Copper Mines is still waiting for revision of the University Act number 11 of 1999 before commencing full participation in the development of Mulungushi University," he said.
And Mr Longwe said Nkrumah had employed qualified lecturers to undertake degree programmes while the Government had set aside about K53 billion for infrastructure development at the institution.
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