News / Local
State universities face unrest,collapse
21 Jan 2017 at 05:08hrs | Views
Acting Higher and Tertiary Education ministry secretary, John Dhewa has warned that local state run universities risk collapse and unrest due to poor budget allocations.
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa announced a massive reduction in funding in his budget statement.
Dhewa said the reduction in the allocation for universities from $221m to $125m in 2017 would have far-reaching consequences with the amount expected to sustain the institutions for six months.
"We thought it was a mistake and we are not aware why they cut it to $125m, as this will largely affect salaries for lecturers" he told Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education.
"We foresee problems if we fail to pay university staff, it will be catastrophic and it will affect the peace and stability at universities".
Dhewa said from a bid of $3m for scholarship students' support, only $1 million was allocated.
"Of the $1m, $500 000 will go to the Equatorial Guinea scholarship programme and the other $500 000 will go to Russia.
"It will affect the welfare of our students in those countries and diplomatic relations. In 2016, some of these students were spending nights at railway stations and we had to pay something".
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa announced a massive reduction in funding in his budget statement.
Dhewa said the reduction in the allocation for universities from $221m to $125m in 2017 would have far-reaching consequences with the amount expected to sustain the institutions for six months.
"We thought it was a mistake and we are not aware why they cut it to $125m, as this will largely affect salaries for lecturers" he told Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education.
"We foresee problems if we fail to pay university staff, it will be catastrophic and it will affect the peace and stability at universities".
Dhewa said from a bid of $3m for scholarship students' support, only $1 million was allocated.
"Of the $1m, $500 000 will go to the Equatorial Guinea scholarship programme and the other $500 000 will go to Russia.
"It will affect the welfare of our students in those countries and diplomatic relations. In 2016, some of these students were spending nights at railway stations and we had to pay something".
Source - Byo24News
