Minister loses cool over questions on universities’ closure
Minister of Education, Science and Technology Emmanuel Fabiano on Tuesday lost his cool when opposition members of Parliament (MPs) pressed him to provide an explanation on the future of the closed universities and colleges.
The MPs had taken turns pressing Fabiano to provide answers on whether government is reopening the closed universities or if indeed it has decided to completely shut them.
But just like President Peter Mutharika before him, Fabiano also distanced himself from universities’ closure saga.
He minister said the ministry has delegated such responsibilities to councils to decide.
However, this did not go down well with MP for Salima South Constituency Uladi Mussa People’s Party (PP) and his Salima North West counterpart Jessie Kabwila Malawi Congress Party (MCP) who demanded an explanation on who is responsible for the education sector.
Said Mussa: “The President says he is not responsible. The minister says he is not responsible. Who is responsible for this?”
Kabwila, on the other hand, told the minister to “honourably resign” if had found himself inept after being appointed into the ministerial position.
“If you take up a position and you find that you are inept, Its better you must resign. Are you in charge or you not in charge? If you are not in charge, humbly resign! Simple!” demanded Kabwila.
Kabwila said it was funny for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration to claim that it is committed to empowering the youth when the same government is denying the youth their right to education through closure of institutions of higher learning.
As pressure mounted, Fabiano backtracked, saying he never said he was not responsible.
“I said we have delegated that responsibility to the councils,” said the minister.
But the First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje schooled the minister that by virtue of being a minister, he is representing the councils; hence, the need for him to address all the questions pertaining to the education sector.
“I wish to ask you to tone down and objectively address concerns from the members. You don’t expect the councils to come here.
“You are representing the councils, Honourable Minister. So, address the questions from the MPs,” Mcheka Chilenje.
Speaking during the first congregation of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) last week, Mutharika declared that he does not want “everything to come to me” whenever a crisis arises in the universities.
President Peter Mutharika has accused councils and managements of public universities of contributing to the closure of the institutions of higher learning because of their resistance to embrace the ongoing reforms in the public service.
