Thu, 03 Aug 2017 12:57:50 +0000 THE decision by the University of Zambia (UNZA) management to bar over 8, 000 students from sitting for end of term examinations on account of non-payment of tuition is a matter that does not need politicising. Sadly, populist politics always takes centre stage in such matters, reinforcing public prejudices irrespective of their validity, over-simplifying and distorting alternative options, taking political expedience rather than optimal or principled course. The danger of populism is that it appeals to sentiment rather than sense and reality. UNZA, like any other institution of higher learning, needs finances to operate smoothly. Expecting a university with one-third of its enrolled students not fully paid up to offer quality education is not only unrealistic but also a deliberate ploy not to contextualize the challenges that come with sustaining smooth operations of a learning institution of such magnitude. The huge expense that comes with managing a university cannot […]
