ZOMBA-(MaraviPost)-There is jubilation among students at University of Malawi (UNIMA) and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) following the upkeep allowance hike from MK350,000.00 to MK560.000.00 per academic year.

The hike which represents 60% follows Minister of Finance Simplex Chithyola Banda’s announcement in Parliament on Monday, March 25, 2024.

The minister has acted on the directive President Lazarus Chakwera made three weeks ago to adjust students’ upkeep.

In two separate statements from both UNIMA and MUST issued on Tuesday, March 26, public varsity students representatives expressed gratitude over Chakwera’s timely gesture.

“Fellow students, you, may recall that I joined my fellow SRC leaders from the six public universities in Malawi on 13th February. 2024 in a round table discussion with the Chancellor of the University of Malawi, his Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, president of the Republic of Malawi at Kamuzu palace in Lilongwe.

“Our discussion with the state president centered on a number of agendas of which one of them was the upkeep increment. Comrades, I am so excited with the official information from the Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board that government has increased the upkeep loan from MK350,000.00 per academic year to MK560.000.00 per year representing a 60% increase. You may wish to know that it is the same Dr. Chakwera who increases it from MK200,000.00 to the current MK350,000.00”, reads UNIMA Student Representative Council (SRC) statement in part signed by its President Thanks Mwalwanda Elia.

SRC statement adds, “To our beloved chancellor Dr. Laz, take it from me that University of Malawi Students are grateful. This gesture has demonstrated that you are not only a listening president, but also a caring father of our beloved nation Malawi and that you have at the back of your mind the welfare of students in public universities. We are looking forward to implementation of the other petition we made to increase the number of loan beneficiaries when it comes to tuition”.

Echoing the same, MUST RSC statement signed by its President Alexander Kude lauds, “With regards to the Press release from the current government through the Ministry of Finance, I would like to acknowledge the commitment of the State President. HE Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera to his pledge in considering our daily lives by increasing the Upkeep yet another time in his reign, now from K350,000 to K560.000.

“This shall contribute to quality education as one of the most priority pillars of His administrative governance. Finally. I should further appreciate the State President for giving myself and fellow leaders a chance to have met him in person and express our problems”.