Higher Education Authority > HEA News2 > Press Release > PRESS RELEASE: Pay Audit Fees By 31st December, 2025, or Face Deregistration, HEA Warns Higher Education Institutions

PRESS RELEASE: Pay Audit Fees By 31st December, 2025, or Face Deregistration, HEA Warns Higher Education Institutions

October 31, 2025 Press Release

Issued on 31st October, 2025
Issued by Mr. Birbal Boniface Musoba
Corporate Communications Officer
Higher Education Authority

The Higher Education Authority (HEA) has issued a stern warning to all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that failure to pay annual institutional audit fees and undergo an institutional audit by 31st December, 2025, will result in deregistration in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Statutory Instrument No. 51 of 2024, issued pursuant to the Higher Education (Amendment) Act, 2021, mandates that all Higher Education Institutions conduct annual self-assessments and submit their self-assessment reports to the Authority on or before 31st March of each year. The annual institutional audit fee forms part of this statutory requirement and is legally enforceable.

The Authority has noted with concern that a few institutions remain non-compliant, particularly regarding the payment of annual institutional audit fees. This breach undermines the quality assurance and oversight functions mandated to the Authority under the Higher Education Act, 2013, as read with the Higher Education (Amendment) Act, 2021.

Accordingly, any Higher Education Institution that has not paid the annual institutional audit fee and has not undergone an institutional audit by 31st December, 2025, will face deregistration in accordance with:

  1. Section 22(2)(d) of the Higher Education Act, 2013, which empowers the Authority to deregister an institution that fails to comply with the provisions of the Act; and,
  2. Section 23(1) of the Higher Education (Amendment) Act, 2021, relating to non-compliance with regulatory requirements.

In addition, the Authority reminds Higher Education Institutions of their statutory obligation to remit the Student Levy. Failure to pay or remit the Student Levy also constitutes non-compliance and shall equally attract deregistration, in line with Section 25(4) of the Higher Education Act, 2013, which provides for enforcement against institutions that fail to meet statutory financial obligations.

The Higher Education (General) Regulations, 2024, published under Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 51 of 2024, in the Government Gazette on Friday, 30th August, 2024, determine all applicable fees, including annual institutional audit fees and student levy rates.

The Higher Education Authority will not hesitate to take decisive enforcement action against any institution that fails to meet its statutory obligations. Non-compliance will not be tolerated, and any institution found in breach will face the full weight of the law, including deregistration.

For clarification, institutions are advised to contact:

  1. Finance Section: (+260) 976 936 673
  2. Inspectorate Unit: (+260) 976 936 634

The Authority remains committed to safeguarding the quality, integrity, and financial accountability of Zambia’s higher education system. All institutions are urged to comply without delay.

Media Files:

  1. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k_I9ZOicbjU
  2. Downloads:

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The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is a grant aided institution established under the Higher Education Act No. 4 of 2013, to ensure quality of delivery of services by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

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