Minister of Higher Education Jessie Kabwila says her ministry is seeking alternative funding to support at least 500 students in institutions of higher learning impacted by the withdrawal of United States (US)-funded projects.
She said this in an interview yesterday after the Malawi College of Health Sciences (MCHS), which trains workers for primary healthcare level, appealed for assistance.
Following the withdrawal of the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), MCHS has lost K4.1 billion meant for student sponsorship, wages for specialised staff, learning materials and technology support.
While committing to engage the college on the issue, Kabwila said the ministry has been advising institutions of higher learning to use their own budgets to absorb students who were on USAid sponsorship.
“But where institutions have exhausted all channels, the ministry has been engaging local and international partners to support the students,” she said.
USAid was earmarked to support 469 students in five years.
In an interview yesterday, Steven John, a 24-year-old clinical medicine student, said USAid was supporting him with K125 000 accommodation, K200 000 upkeep and K400 000 tuition per semester.
In an analysis made available to The Nation, MCHS executive director Alice Kadango said the college has also lost support for 10 clinical instructors and six specialised lecturers for its degree programmes.
The withdrawal of USAid funding has also affected Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Malawi University of Science and Technology, among others.
