News / Education
University of Zimbabwe explains double intake
29 Jan 2016 at 05:21hrs | Views
University of Zimbabwe's introduction of two intakes is meant to reduce the waiting period that was being experienced by students before they start lectures at the institution, an official has said.
The institution recently announced that it was going to have two intakes this year for first year students.
In an interview yesterday, UZ director of information and public relations Daniel Chihombori justified the two intakes, saying it would reduce the waiting period for students.
"Traditionally, the university's academic year has been starting in August, yet students get their results in February," he said. "By enrolling students in August that means students had to wait and during that period these people have nothing to do, so the issue is motivated more by reducing this waiting period.
"The statistics show that A-Level students who wrote examinations last year were 41, 663 and from that 28, 510 passed to the extent that they actually qualify for university. Our intervention now in introducing two intakes means we are now dealing with the demand."
Chihombori said the university was fulfilling its mandate to promote equity and improve access to higher education.
"Let me be clear that it's not a competition with other universities, but rather we feel universities should complement each other in accommodating these students, a role all institutions should play," he said.
Chihombori said they would admit 3, 000 students for the first intake.
"We actually wish we could do more to ensure that these students get the higher level of education," he said. "We've a building that has a sitting capacity of 2, 000 students and is supposed to be functioning by February 22 and the whole building is for lecture rooms. Water woes have been dealt with by drilling boreholes and according to tests conducted, the water is safe for drinking."
Chihombori said they were working to ensure that accommodation crisis at the university was solved.
"We've teamed up with local businesses and these are boarding houses and hotels, some are even going to provide transport to and from the institution," he said.
The institution recently announced that it was going to have two intakes this year for first year students.
In an interview yesterday, UZ director of information and public relations Daniel Chihombori justified the two intakes, saying it would reduce the waiting period for students.
"Traditionally, the university's academic year has been starting in August, yet students get their results in February," he said. "By enrolling students in August that means students had to wait and during that period these people have nothing to do, so the issue is motivated more by reducing this waiting period.
"The statistics show that A-Level students who wrote examinations last year were 41, 663 and from that 28, 510 passed to the extent that they actually qualify for university. Our intervention now in introducing two intakes means we are now dealing with the demand."
"Let me be clear that it's not a competition with other universities, but rather we feel universities should complement each other in accommodating these students, a role all institutions should play," he said.
Chihombori said they would admit 3, 000 students for the first intake.
"We actually wish we could do more to ensure that these students get the higher level of education," he said. "We've a building that has a sitting capacity of 2, 000 students and is supposed to be functioning by February 22 and the whole building is for lecture rooms. Water woes have been dealt with by drilling boreholes and according to tests conducted, the water is safe for drinking."
Chihombori said they were working to ensure that accommodation crisis at the university was solved.
"We've teamed up with local businesses and these are boarding houses and hotels, some are even going to provide transport to and from the institution," he said.
Source - chronicle
