The Ministry of Education, Science and Education (MoEST) on Saturday shocked Malawians with the announcement that it will no longer sponsor the needy in public universities in a bid said to improve education standards.
Apart from ceasing bankrolling student into public high learning institutions, tuition fees for secondary schools have also been hiked.
The development comes just a week the same ministry hiked tuitions fees for students want to access education at Domasi College yet Malawians are going through economic turmoil with sliding of the country’s Kwacha which has resulted into skyrocketing of goods and services.
Speaking to the news conference on September 18, 2015 in the capital Lilongwe, Lonely Margareta, MoEST’s Principal Secretary said the move aimed to improve quality education standards in public universities and secondary schools.
“The reforms in the ministry aim at improving education standards and conditions in public schools especially on diet. The general public must be responsible for their nation by contributing a little something which will ease government pressure. All needy students will
get support from the newly established loan board.
“Therefore, with effect from the 2015/2016 academic year, reviewed fees in all secondary schools, public teachers training college and Domasi College of education and further to that government have also decided that with effect from the 2015/16 academic year, there will
not be government sponsored student selected to Domasi College of education and public universities and students will be on self-sponsorship basis.
“Revised secondary school feed will come into effect from 4th January, 2016. The revised fees to be paid in terms including tuition fees (MK3, 000), Textbook Revolving Fund (MK3, 000), General Purpose Fund (2,000), MCDE Module Fees (MK1, 000), Centre Fee (MK7, 000), Open Secondary School and Development Fund (MK2, 000) which in the past varied between different school depending on the project being undertaken in a particular school while boarding fees are now at MK24, 000 per term from MK1, 500.
“However, students in Teacher Training Colleges will now be required
to pay MK105, 000 as fees per students per year for their training as a teacher and a MK20, 000 per month allowance will only be payable to those students that secure teaching practice, meaning that government has scrapped off any student allowance at the college”, concludes
Margareta.
Benedicto Kondowe, Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC)’s Executive Director welcomed these education reforms saying efforts to retain loans student have been acquiring from government would be revolved to other needy students.
“The move to stop sponsoring students in public university will lessen duplication of sponsorships and corrupt practices when learners when we’re accessing loans as loan body with the mandate given will administer such needs”, agrees Kondowe.
