Chakwera gets boos, applause at Mzuni

 President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday had mixed fortunes as he received both applause and boos when he commented on the recently hiked tuition fees for public universities at Mzuzu University (Mzuni).

In his address during the Mzuni 25th Congregation and Silver Jubilee commemoration in Mzuzu, the President, who sympathised with parents, students and guardians over the situation, said government “will do everything possible” to ensure that no student drops out due to lack of fees.

Chakwera digressed from his written text and commented on the fees situation barely days after the Ministry of

Education refused requests by concerned students for a downward revision.

First he attracted applause when he appeared to be sympathysing with the parents, guardians and students by saying: “I know many of you struggle and I know many of you are already complaining about fees. It is understandable knowing the context in which all of us are operating.” But the mood dramatically changed when the President continued from there.

“I want you to know that government is doing all it can in order to make sure that we use all of our available resources to help with each one, so that nobody is out of school, out of university on account of fees,” said Chakwera, attracting boos.

Some students and parents were overheard asking “how?”, apparently in reaction to the situation on the ground where tuition fees have been doubled and scores of students have withdrawn and others are on the verge of withdrawing due to lack of fees.

Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) has since organised a fundraising gold tournament to raise funds for students who withdrew due to lack of tuition fees.

Chakwera then proceeded with his prepared speech and said the country’s aspirations on education cannot be realised with government efforts alone, but through partnerships.

He said a $50 million World Bank grant and a loan of $50 million for Skills for A Vibrant Economy (Save) project as well as a $30 million loan for the second instalment of the African Centres of Excellence Project and United States Agency for International Development $17 million project on Transforming Higher Education System show that government valued partnerships.

Said Chakwera: “Of particular interest to me is the need for our universities to be more aggressive and innovative in securing partnerships with the private sector.”

Mzuni Council chairperson Hawa Ndilowe said the university has graduated about 13 785 students since its first congregation in 2001.

“Currently, we have an enrolment of 8649 students from 73 students when the university was starting in 1998,” she said.

Mzuni Vice-Chancellor Professor Wales Singini said the university’s 25- year journey has not been easy, but promised to strive to remain relevant and innovative in contributing towards the achievement of Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development strategy.

“We offer a number of programmes that made us relevant to the country’s development agenda such as renewable energy, tourism among others,” he said.

In an interview yesterday, education commentator Victor Chikoti said the President needed to be clear on the measures put in

 place to ensure that no student is withdrawn due to lack of fees.

Earlier, Edukans executive director Limbani Nsapato said government should explore increasing the allocation during the next budget review.

Another education activist Benedicto Kondowe recommended that the government should find some alternatives to solve the puzzle citing the current timing and the poor economy make things harder for needy students.

University of Malawi proposed a fee hike of K800 000, but the Ministry of Education approved K650 000, Malawi University of

Business and Applied Sciences proposed K1.5 million, but K750 000 was approved.

Mzuni proposed K700 000, but K650 000 was approved while Must proposed K800 000, but government nodded to K650 000. Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources has raised fees from K350 000 to K600 000. However, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences is yet to communicate its proposed fee hike.

In the 2023/24 financial year, the Higher Education Students Loans and Grants Board set aside K13.7 billion to benefit 22 406 students in both public and private universities.