AFRICA, ZAMBIA, New law to revamp higher education

The Zambian government has drafted a new higher education law, aimed at revamping and expanding the sector and improving standards, in a country where access to university education remains low.

Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Dr John Phiri presented a Higher Education Bill to parliament last month, following years of demands for reform.

Among other things, the new law will facilitate the formation of a board that will investigate and advise on the affairs of public and private universities, with institutions operating below standards set to face the wrath of the law.
It also seeks to establish at least one public higher education institution in each province, which will mean the creation of seven new institutions.

A new higher education law was part of the manifesto of President Michael Sata for the 2011 election that swept him to power.

Minister Phiri has previously complained about poor standards at some institutions, including that there are universities operating in buildings that do not befit a higher learning institution.

According to the bill, a Higher Education Authority will be established and its functions and powers will include overseeing quality assurance, “the establishment, governance and regulation” of public institutions, and the registration and regulation of private institutions.

Phiri also presented a Teaching Profession Bill that among other things provides for the accreditation and regulation of colleges of education, and the regulation of teachers, their practice and professional conduct

Further, Zambia’s Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde tabled a National Health Research Bill that will establish a National Health Research Authority and a health research ethics board, provide a regulatory framework for the development, regulation, financing and coordination of health research and ensure health research standards and guidelines.

The legislation will also provide for the regulation and management of health research institutions and researchers, and will regulate the use of biological materials, ethical approval of clinical trials, the use of traditional and alternative medicines, and intellectual property rights and biobanks.

In an editorial commenting on the proposed higher education law Chola Mukanga, an economist and founder of the Zambian Economist, said that higher education in the country was a mess. He had no kind words for private institutions.

“If regulatory standards were high (and uncorrupted) then we would have a better chance of delivering an educational infrastructure that supports a growing economy.

“Instead what we have are cheap and low quality colleges that are not doing much to get the poorest members of society to achieve the best returns from educational investment. Many students complain of rampant ‘leakages’ and being taught by underqualified lecturers,” wrote Mukanga.

Many people doubted whether a government that struggled to maintain existing universities could “possibly maintain seven more – possibly not”.

However, Mukanga continued, the ‘lack of funds’ argument did not really stack up because Zambia in previous years had spent proportionately less on education than other members of the Southern African Development Community.

“If others can do it, we should too!”