Court rules in favour of Poly students again

The High Court in Blantyre on Monday again ruled in favour of Polytechnic Students Union (PSU) stopping the University of Malawi (Unima) Council from implementing the new hiked tuition fees.

On October 19 Judge Justice Healey Potani ruled in favour of PSU arguing that the college is still in the 2015/2016 academic year and not in the 2016/2017 academic year, which the Unima fees hike is meant
for.

The university council applied for the re-hearing of the case arguing that the court should set aside the ruling saying it did not hear its side as it was not represented in the court on the day of the ruling.

The Council also argued that some students such as those in first year and those just selected on mature entry could not claim that they were lagging behind in terms of academic year.

This followed an injunction obtained by PSU on September 28 2016, restraining college authorities from maintain the hiked fees of K350 000 from K55 000 and K250 000 for government and self sponsored
students respectively.

However on Monday, Justice Healey Potani varied the order saying it will not be applied across the board but only to continuing students.

This means that all first year students and those who have just been selected on mature entry will pay the new hiked fees.

Speaking in an interview after the ruling, both PSU and Unima Council lawyers Wanangwa Hara and Ted Roka expressed satisfaction with the ruling.

Commenting on the matter, PSU president Frank Mchupuka Msiska called nfor the immediate opening of the college now that the matter has been nresolved.

Opening of the Polytechnic College was postponed before the beginning of its 2015/2016 academic calendar on October 3.