Tag Archives: Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe

Education, Malawi

CSEC raises alarm over alleged academic fraud at Mzuzu University

Shaffie A Mtambo

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) has expressed serious concern over allegations of academic fraud at Mzuzu University (MZUNI), warning that the issue poses a grave threat to the integrity of Malawi’s higher education system and public confidence in university qualifications.

In a statement issued on 10 February 2026 and signed by CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe and Board Chairperson Limbani Nsapato, the coalition said the allegations, together with the university’s own admissions, have raised alarm over the credibility of academic awards and the protection of students’ rights.

CSEC was reacting to a statement released by Mzuzu University on 9 February 2026, in which the institution confirmed that its Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) detected irregular alterations affecting 103 student portals.

The university further disclosed that graduations for 55 finalist students had been withheld as investigations continue with support from the Anti Corruption Bureau.

While acknowledging that the university has taken steps to investigate the matter, CSEC said the actions announced so far do not meet the level of accountability required in a case that directly threatens academic credibility and national trust in higher education institutions.

The coalition expressed particular concern for students, especially finalists, whose academic futures have been abruptly placed on hold due to circumstances beyond their control.

CSEC warned that the situation exposes affected students to serious academic, psychological and socio-economic harm.

CSEC strongly rejected any suggestion that students may be forced to repeat academic years, restart programmes or lose time because of institutional failures.

It described such outcomes as unjust and contrary to the principles of fair administrative justice, stressing that students must not become collateral damage for system weaknesses or governance failures.

The coalition also criticized attempts to caution the public against alleged “misrepresentation” and “malicious attacks” while investigations remain unresolved.

CSEC maintained that public universities are subject to scrutiny and that transparency is a legal, moral and public obligation.

According to CSEC, trust in higher education can only be restored through openness, timely disclosure of facts and decisive action against wrongdoing, rather than defensive communication or delayed information sharing.

The coalition therefore issued firm demands, including immediate protection for affected students through binding assurances that no student will be unfairly penalized without individualized, evidence based investigations.

It also called for a transparent inquiry with clear timelines and mandatory public release of findings.

CSEC further demanded decisive action against any staff members or external actors implicated in academic manipulation, fraud or abuse of office, without exception or institutional shielding.

It also urged national level audits of academic management and information systems across public universities to prevent recurrence.

The coalition emphasized that academic integrity is foundational to national development, noting that university degrees underpin professional competence, labour market confidence and Malawi’s international standing.

CSEC concluded by stating that it will closely monitor the matter and will not hesitate to escalate advocacy, including engaging statutory oversight bodies, if transparency, student protection and accountability are not clearly upheld, insisting that the credibility of Malawi’s higher education system must be defended without compromise.

Health

“Close schools with tangle data on Covid-19 scary”-CSEC tells Malawi Govt

Lloyd M’bwana
Kondowe against school closure without tangible data

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s education rights body Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) has cautioned Malawi Government to have tangle data of Covid-19 cases that warrant schools closure.

The coalition says close monitoring of cases is required, and education institutions should have access to testing facilities to allow for periodic and random testing to monitor the situation.

The education rights body added that “We reiterate that closure of schools should be informed by data to determine the cumulative damage to the system and the children. It’s a tough decision to make but should be the very last resort after we try intensive prevention, risk mitigation and containment measures. This is a very serious decision that requires extensive consultations, deep analysis and sober thinking”.

CSEC comes barely a day after Human Right Defenders Coalition (HRDC) urged Malawi government to close schools over escalation of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the last eleven days in 2021.

In a press statement made available to The Maravi Post on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 signed by Benedicto Kondowe Jennipher Mkandawire CSE’s Executive Director and Board Chairperson respectively urges authorities not to close schools based on emotional but practical evidence that will really put children in danger while learning.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2021 lost two cabinet Minister Sidik Mia and Lingisoni Belekanyama due to Covid-19 spike.

This prompted President Lazarus Chakwera State of Disaster with three days of mourning for the departed souls.

As of Tuesday, Malawi had 9400 Covid-19 case with 254 death out of 98864 tests since March 2020.

Below is CSEC’s full statement:

AN APPEAL FOR CONSCIOUS AND PRAGMATIC DECISION ON CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF SCHOOLS

The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) wishes to express its opinion on this matter following the calls for closure of schools in the face of the reported surge in Covid cases.

There have been recent calls by some quarters is recommending that schools among others should be closed with immediate effect.

We, at CSEC, acknowledge that Malawi is at war, and these unprecedented times call for nothing but conscious and pragmatic decisions to deal with the pandemic for both the present and posterity.

We deeply convey our condolences to the nation, families and friends who have lost their beloved relatives to the pandemic. We pray that their souls should rest in peace!

While appreciating the above concerns, anxieties, grief and the moral duty that we all have towards the nation to fight Covid-19, we would like raise
schools have fared in the face of the pandemic in order to guide on strategies moving forward.

Secondly, while the State has the duty to protect life, it must be acknowledged that it still has the duty to protect all other rights, including the right to education.

This would entail roviding proper safeguards in order to protect the right to education. It is on this basis that greater attention should be made to intensify and enforce the preventive measures, risk management and containment of the pandemic.

We believe that every effort should be made to make schools safe by providing more resources and health surveillance support.

We therefore applaud institutions that are practicing temporal closures to allow for disinfection as a short term measure, even in cases where a student or staff has tested positive or indeed died. This allows learning to continue as the situation is being monitored.

Thirdly, dependent on the state of affairs, it would be worthwhile to consciously consider the following:
a) That in keeping the schools open, there’s need for decongestion, employment of double shifting and strict compliance to health guidelines. This can work if we increase the labour force and infrastructure. In this instance, Government will need to recruit additional teachers, provide tents or temporary learning structures.

Further, close monitoring of cases is required, and education institutions should have access to testing facilities to allow for periodic and random testing to monitor the situation.

In case a teacher or a student is found positive, testing should be intensified followed by determination of whether the institution should remain open or be closed temporally.

There is also need to continuously update school managers and teachers on Covid management as there are gaps in knowledge among some school managers and teachers on the pandemic.
b) That if schools are to close depending on the severity of Covid-19 infections, in case of partial or full lock down, the closure should be gradual and pragmatic.

We are of the view that government should allow Form Four students who are sitting for their examinations and all those who are about to finish their academic year to wind up without disruption.

In addition, closure should be geographic in that schools in the most impacted areas should be targeted first rather than using a single incidence to close all schools across the country.

As a country, we can help such affected schools on a case by case basis to catch up using different strategies and modes.

Appreciating the shortfalls of radio and online learning to reach all learners, there will be need to look into distance learning or self -paced learning by having resource packs which can be used at home in order to guarantee continued education.

As well, Government will have to seriously put in place measures to safeguard learners from social challenges such as the unprecedented number of pregnancies that were recorded during the first closure of schools as a result of Covid.

We will expect Government to work with stakeholders to engage the learners, parents, guardians and communities at large to curb any potential social breakdown as a result of the school closures and this will require multi-sectoral approach.

In conclusion, we reiterate that closure of schools should be informed by data to determine the cumulative damage to the system and the children. It’s a tough decision to make but should be the very last resort after we try intensive prevention, risk mitigation and containment measures. This is a very serious decision that requires extensive consultations, deep analysis and sober thinking. Hence, we support the direction that five ministries should bang heads before advising the Presidential Taskforce.

Thus, the abrupt closure of schools as other quarters are proposing without being pragmatic will be disastrous and have dire consequences that will be irrecoverable for decades to come.

We trust that every Malawian will play his or her part in the fight against Covid-19.

Should the situation merit closure of schools, we urge all Malawians to have belief in the counsel from our medical experts, and continue to support our children affected by such a decision in our homes as we have done before.

CSEC will continue to monitor the situation and engage with the relevant authorities.

Covid – 19 is real. We all have a moral responsibility to ourselves and others. And every person’s little effort is key in the fight against Covid-19.

Education, Malawi

Coronavirus opens up for distance learning in Malawi

Lloyd M’bwana
6-7 years cute child learning mathematics from computer.

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The spread of Coronavirus across the global has given an opportunity in excelling other model of learning including open distance with little costs to implement.

The global pandemic, Covid-19 that encourages social distance has necessitated distance learning that serves classroom congestion which needs to be encouraged.

Mishek Munthali, Teacher Education and Development Director in the Ministry of Education observes that despite Covid-19 striking hard countries economy, the pandemic has given the sector to explore other ways of learning.

Munthali disclosed that with the pandemic experience the ministry will soon fully establish directorate for open distance learning.

In distance learning radios, internet facilities (computers, mobile phones, tablets) are used to transmit lessons without physical teacher-student or pupil contact.

He was speaking during the sidelines of World Teachers Day commemoration’s radio panel discussion on October 9, 2020.

But the day is commemorated yearly on October 5 whose this year’s theme titled, Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Future”.

With funding from USAID and UKAID through LGAP the panel discussion attracted civil education activist and government officials.

“The pandemic has challenged us to explore other model of learning that were not utilized including open distance learning. This is another area government will invest much for full operation.

“The ministry understands challenges teachers are facing amid Covid-19. We will address their concerns while exploring others means of advancing quality education in Malawi,” says Munthali.

Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe observes that teachers have gone through tough time to meet their social needs during the pandemic.

Kondowe therefore urged government to motivate teachers including meeting their arrears demands.

“About 40,000 teachers are yet to be promoted while 25,000 teachers need to be given arrears. Teachers need to awarded annually for outstanding work displaying. These are some of ways government can motivate teachers apart from good salaries,” urges Kondowe.

World Teachers’ Day is held annually on October 5 to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO recommendation which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers and standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, teaching and learning conditions.