Levi Nyagura

Prof Levi Nyagura, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe.

Levi M. Nyagura is a Zimbabwean academic. He was appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe in January 2003 and was subsequently reappointed for a second and third term, the latter of which ends in December 2017. ^[1]

Education & Career

Levi Nyagura holds has a PhD in Education from an American university - Southern Illinois University. He has a background as a Mathematics Teacher; he graduated with a BSc degree in Mathematics in the United Kingdom and went on to complete a Graduate Certificate of Education at the University of Zimbabwe and later an MSc degree with the University of South Africa before doing his PhD in the United States.^[2]

Controversies

Levi Nyagura controversially awarded a PhD degree to Grace Mugabe in 2014. ^[3]

In 2015 Levi Nyagura controversially fired a senior university staffer Senior Assistant Registrar Ngaatendwe Takawira for allegedly procuring a small cap for Robert Mugabe which failed to fit during a graduation ceremony he officiated as Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe in October 2015; a decision later reversed by a Zimbabwean court. ^[4]

Levi Nyagura has been widely criticized for presiding over the University of Zimbabwe's decline characterized by a failure to retain staff because of poor remuneration, politicization of the institution, purges of independent minded academics, and purges of senior academics who protested Levi Nyagura's leadership style. ^[5] Levi Nyagura reportedly boasts of his penchant for firing staff and not renewing contracts.^[6]

Publications

Levi Nyagura has published mainly on teacher^[7] and student performance^[8] in Zimbabwe's schools, as well as overall school performance.^[9]

References

1. University of Zimbabwe. "About UZ". Retrieved 2009-01-02.
2. "Levi Nyagura Profile". University of Zimbabwe. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
3. Owen, Gagare. "Nyagura under fire over Grace's PhD". The Zimbabwe Independent. Alpha Media Holdings. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
4. Mutsaka, Farai. "Zimbabwean university staffer suspended in small cap mishap". Yahoo News. Yahoo. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
5. Newsday, Editorial. "University of Zimbabwe integrity at lowest ebb". News Day. Alpha Media Holdings. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
6. Ncube, Xolisani. "University of Zimbabwe to lay off 700 workers". News Day. Alpha Media Holdings. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
7. Nyagura, L.M.; Reece, J.C. (1990). "Teacher quality in Zimbabwe secondary schools" (PDF). Zimbabwe Journal of Education Research (Harare: Human Resources Research Centre University of Zimbabwe). Retrieved 2009-01-04.
8. Riddell, A.R.; Nyagura, L.M. (1991). What Causes Differences in Achievement in Zimbabwe's Secondary Schools? (PDF). New York: World Bank. p. 55. ASIN B0006EZFX2.
9. Nyagura, L.M. (1991). "A Comparative Analysis Of The Quality of Primary Education In Zimbabwe By School Type" (PDF). Zimbabwe Journal of Education Research (Harare: Human Resources Research Centre University of Zimbabwe). Retrieved 2009-01-04.