By: Lloyd M’bwana
The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) through its Spokesperson, Dr. Jessie Kabwira has commended government for adhering to the suspension of fees hike in secondary school which Parliament passed a motion blocking its implementation.
MCP reaction comes barely a day after Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) on Thursday, December 7, issued a statement of suspending the implementation of new fees in public secondary schools this term until further notice.
In September 2015, government announced adjustment proposal on secondary school fees for the 2015/2016 academic year which expected students in boarding schools paying M35, 000 per term (MK105, 000 per year) while those in daily schools were to pay MK10, 000 (MK30, 000 per year) and student in national grant-aided schools were expected to pay MK65, 000 for boarding fees from MK55, 00 per term.
While on public tertiary institutions which the stand remains students are required to pay between MK190, 000 and MK280, 000 without government allowances though the students from the public universities petitioned Malawi Parliament on the hike which until now a response has been given.
“The implementation of the fee increase in public secondary has been deferred. This has been done on the basis of the motion passed in Parliament on December 3, 2015. For students who had already paid the new fees the balance will be carried over to subsequent terms”, reads MoEST’s email which its Spokesperson, Rebecca Phwitiko send to Maravi Post on Thursday, January 7.
Addressing the news conference on Friday, January 8, in the capital Lilongwe, MCP’s Spokesperson, Dr. Kabwira expressed gratitude to its fellow opposition party; People’s Party (PP) and independence law makers who stood against all odd urging government to suspend the fees hike.
“We sincerely commend government for adhering Parliament decision on suspension of the fees hike which MCP, PP and Independent MPs stood firm against the DPP law makers’ uteri motive to punish Malawians. It just shows that they have started listening to the dissenting views which could have been extended to the sale of Malawi Savings Bank (MSB).
“We want the same approach being taken in addressing dwindling of public health service delivery where patients are still receiving a single meal a day, drug theft, Farm Inputs Subsidy Program (Fisp)’s mess and handling of cash gate cases. MCP is there to provide solutions to social-economic challenges Malawians are going through.
This is why with our colleagues in opposition bench we stood firm defeating the insensitive plan.
“The party will also give credit when is due. This is the reason also we recommend government for adhering Parliament decision on this matter. This is a victory to all Malawians of good will who wish their villager’s well in life. This should be the spirit to go when addressing pressing issues the citizenry encounter to move this nation forward”, delighted Dr. Kabwira.
Later, the Maravi Post caught up with Felix Jumbe, Salima Central legislator and the architect of the motion which led Parliament suspending the fees hike who missed the press conference, saying the poor people’s voices in villages across the nation were being heard.
“Personally, I feel honored for now that government has taken the right decision though long overdue. We understand that government system works differently before a final decision is made. MCP will continue giving alternative ideas on matters of national importance in a bid to serve our communities at their interest.
“The hiking of the fees if implemented had its own implications especially for a girl child who needs much support from parents whom many in villages could not afford such fees increase. The nation needs to invest a lot in education for social-economic growth”, urges Jumbe.
The motion in which Jumbe and seconded by Dr. Kabwira moved in Parliament flared tempers among law makers as those from opposition were against the hiking while government side wanted the implementation of the proposals.
Although, government bench continued sabotaging the motion on the floor, legislators eventually passed the motion which blocked government to implement school fees and tuition fees in public secondary schools.
