ZANEC – Higher Education Authority

“Free Thinking is the Only Way to Pursue the Truth” – Minister of Education

HEA — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 19:27:47 +0000

Minister of Education, Honourable Mr. Douglas Syakalima, MP., has stated that free thinking is the only way to pursue the truth and to add innovations that will help societies.

Mr. Syakalima said this yesterday when he gave the Keynote Address as he officiated the opening of the National Symposium on Academic Freedom which was held at Government Complex in Lusaka from 15^th and 16^th December, 2021.

The Minister of Education stated that revolutions happen because the population is free to think and pursue ideas that better society. He emphasised that there was a need to appreciate the value of research and ensure that opportunities were created for scholars to conduct research freely without undue hindrance.

“Most developed countries have prospered mainly due to their investment in action research in various fields of human endeavour,” Mr. Syakalima said, adding, “therefore, for our country to achieve the desired levels of development, my government believes that we need to encourage home grown research by allowing students and academia to research and disseminate their research findings freely.”

The Honourable Minister stated that it was for this reason that it was important to promote academic freedom in Zambia’s universities and colleges, adding that these Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) needed to be supported to ensure that they use research to generate solutions to the problems and challenges that Zambia was facing.

The National Symposium was organised by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC), in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Technology and Science, and was held under the theme, “Academic Freedom in Higher Education: Practice and Challenges.”

The Minister of Education pledged that the New Dawn Government stands for inclusive quality education that is accessible by all students in all HEIs.

“We are also aware that quality education can only thrive in universities and colleges when academic work is informed by research,” Mr. Syakalima said, adding, “therefore, academic freedom of our lecturers and students should be respected in both universities and colleges and, as such, as a Government, we would like to call upon university managements, lecturers and students to work together in promoting academic freedom in higher education institutions.”

Mr. Syakalima further stated that even under the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of the Republic of Zambia expects universities to continue with their research in order to find solutions to the pandemic and generate knowledge about mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on education.

“For example, investments in digital technologies for promoting continuity of learning at home must be informed by research if we are to have remote learning solutions that leave no one behind regardless of their abilities, gender and economic status,” he said.

The Honourable Minister emphasised that it was, therefore, important for universities to use research to come up with innovations that will provide practical solutions to the problems that the Zambian people were facing.

The Minister of Education poses for a picture with delegates of the National Symposium, including the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, and the Director General of the Higher Education Authority, Professor Stephen Simukanga.

ZANEC Champions Academic Freedom in Zambia

HEA — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 18:37:48 +0000

The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has been championing academic freedom in Zambia through studies it has conducted on the subject matter from as far back as 2015.

Speaking when she gave remarks on behalf of the organisation, ZANEC Board Member, Mrs. Christine Mwasiti Menda, stated that ZANEC has conducted studies and produced publications on the Academic Freedom Study, the Generic Code of Conduct on Academic Freedom, and the recent study on the Student Situation Analysis on Academic Freedom.

“As a coalition, we believe that the tenets of academic freedom should be respected by all stakeholders for homegrown solutions to thrive in our country,” Mrs. Menda said.

Mrs. Menda further stated that it was important that at the end of the symposium, clear outcomes were developed for the betterment of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). She added that these outcomes should be taken forward by the lawmakers, who were represented at the symposium by the Minister of Education, the Minister of Technology and Science through the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, and the Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology.

Mrs. Menda was speaking during the National Symposium on Academic Freedom which was held at Government Complex in Lusaka from 15^th and 16^th December, 2021.

The National Symposium was organised by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC), in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Technology and Science, wand was held under the theme, “Academic Freedom in Higher Education: Practice and Challenges.”

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In Pictures: National Symposium on Academic Freedom

HEA — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 14:39:44 +0000

The National Symposium on Academic Freedom was held at Government Complex in Lusaka from 15^th and 16^th December, 2021, and was organised by the Higher Education Authority (HEA)and the Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC), in collaboration with the Ministries of Education and Technology and Science, under the theme, “Academic Freedom in Higher Education: Practice and Challenges.”

Honourable Mr. Twaambo Mutinta, MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology, gave a consolidated reaction of the Members of Parliament on the significance of Academic Freedom.
Honourable Mr. Elias Daka, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology also spoke at the symposium in support of Academic Freedom.
Honourable Mr. Heartson Mabeta, MP., a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology also spoke at the symposium in support of Academic Freedom.
Honourable Mr. Golden Mwila, a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Technology also spoke at the symposium in support of Academic Freedom.
Director of Ceremony, Dr. Hambaba Jimaima, welcomes the delegates of the symposium.
Mr. Bonaventure Mutale, Senior Planner in the Ministry of Technology and Science, gives an opening prayer.
Mrs. Kadijah Mvula Sakala, Assistant Director Vocation, Education and Training in the Ministry of Technology and Science, calls upon the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science to give a speech on behalf of the Minister of Technology and Science.
Prof. Mlenga Jere, a Lecturer at the University of Lusaka (UNILUS), gives a keynote presentation on Academic Freedom. Prof. Jere is also a lecturer at the University of Cape Town but is currently on sabbatical.
HEA Director-General, Prof. Stephen Simukanga, escorts the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Technology and Science, Dr. Brilliant Habeenzu, after he delivered the remarks on behalf of the Minister of Technology and Science. Also in the picture are Mr. Mutale and Mrs. Sakala.
HEA Manager – Standards, Research and Institutional Audits, Dr. Orleans Mfune, makes a presentation on Institutional Policies and Practices on Academic Freedom.
A panel discussion moderated by Dr. John Simwinga (L), discussed the experiences of actors on academic freedom from a student perspective, academic staff perspective, and HEI management perspective. All of these were represented by discussants from both public and private HEIs
Mr. Denny Nsokolo, HEA Senior Standards and Research Officer and the Symposium’s Chief Rapporteur, gives a summary on day 2 of the discussions from day 1.
Dr. Mzini Kantini from Zambia National Commission for UNESCO, makes a presentation on Academic Freedom: Regional and International Perspectives.
Dr. Anne Chewe from the University of Zambia’s Law Department, makes a presentation on Regulation and Legal Aspects of Academic Freedom.
Dr. Jimaima listens to the group presentations as one of the groups finalise their presentation on the way forward regarding academic freedom. The delegates of the symposium were split into four groups to outline what they deemed were the way forward after the symposium which would be presented to the Minister of Education for consideration.
Dr. Chewe makes a group presentation for one of the groups. She was assisted in her presentation by Mr. Kelvin Chilunda Kakoma, a lecturer at Kalabo Trades Training Institute, and Mr. Mambo Ndila, the Student Representative Council President at Rusangu University
Dr. Mwaka Siluonde, a Lecturer at Mulungushi University, presents the way forward for one of the groups.
Prof. Simukanga gives closing remarks. He emphasised that the Secretariate would submit the Way Forward presented by the National Symposium on Academic Freedom to the Minister od Education for consideration and would proceed as the Minister would advise.

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