Association of Christian Educators in Malawi (Acem) has adjusted boarding fees for students in government-assisted secondary schools by almost 30 percent, from K460 000 to K600 000 per term.
The revised fees, approved by the Acem Board of Trustees after consultations with the Ministry of Education, will take effect from September 1 2026.
In a statement issues yesterday, the association said the increase followed formal requests from school proprietors and head teachers, who cited rising costs of foodstuffs, utilities and other essential commodities.
rising costs: Kondowe
Under the new structure, the baseline boarding fee will be K580 000 per student per term, with the remaining K20 000 allocated to education offices and membership.
Proprietor education offices under dioceses or synods will receive K10 000, while Acem membership and the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops (MCCB) and Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) national education offices will each be getting K5 000.
Acem has warned schools against exceeding the K580 000 baseline boarding fee without written justification submitted to its executive director for consideration and review.
The association said the directive was intended to ensure compliance with the Ministry of Education’s Free Secondary Education Policy while regulating charges imposed on parents.
“The Acem Board of Trustees reminds all school heads and proprietors to adhere strictly to the Ministry of Education’s Free Secondary Education (FSE) Policy guidelines, which explicitly prohibit Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) contributions and School Development Funds,” reads the statement signed by acting board chairperson Archbishop Thomas Luke Msusa.
The trustees also directed school administrators to allow students from disadvantaged households to settle boarding fees through flexible installments, instead of demanding immediate payments.
Acem has also advised school administrators to consult it before suspending or turning away any student over unpaid balances, according to the operational guidelines.
Civil Society Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe has said the upward revision was understandable against the rising food, utility and commodity costs, and the safeguards on fee ceilings, installment payments and bursary support were also welcome.
However, Kondowe said the increase also risked undermining the access gains intended by free secondary education, particularly for vulnerable households.
“Government and school proprietors must, therefore, ensure that no learner is excluded simply because their family cannot immediately afford the revised fee, while strengthening bursaries and closely monitoring implementation to prevent additional or unauthorised charges,” he said.
Another education expert Island Mtambo said boarding schools need adequate funds to provide adequate food, pay water and electricity bills, purchase teaching materials and meet administrative costs.
“However, schools should remain accountable by preparing and strictly following clear budgets,” said Mtambo.
With the academic year fast approaching, the association has directed school authorities to immediately inform parents and guardians about the revised boarding fee structure.
