Current and former public university students have petitioned Parliament to intervene in the 100 percent increase in university tuition fees, warning that the move could force many learners to abandon their studies.
The petition, delivered to Parliament yesterday by concerned students led by former Mzuzu University Student Council president George Kamadya, calls on lawmakers to scrutinise the fee increases and urge government to reverse the decision.
He said: “We would like the Malawi Parliament to intervene on the issue. They have just hiked fees by 100 percent. We are really concerned because many students are going to drop out.”
James Adiwochi (L) and Aubrey Dolola look on. | Jacob Nankhonya
Kamadya said students expect Parliament to debate the matter and push the government to reconsider the increase.
He also dismissed the government’s argument that expanded student loan schemes would cushion the impact of the fee increase, saying loans are not a substitute for affordable education.
Receiving the petition on behalf of Parliament, Lilongwe Nyanja legislator Baba Steven Malondera (Malawi Congress Party) said the petition would be submitted to the Speaker’s office for urgent consideration.
He said he had advised students against mobilising large crowds to deliver the petition, urging them instead to send only a small delegation to avoid “unnecessary confrontation with other stakeholders”.
Malondera said Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to represent citizens and exercise oversight, adding that the concerns raised by the students fall within that mandate.
Meanwhile, government has insisted that no needy student will be denied access to higher education because of the revised fees, saying eligible students will have access to loans.
