Editors PickNational News

Government aiding private schools to break the law

Malawi Government has not issued certificates to private primary and secondary schools in the country since enactment of the Education Act (2013), which prohibits operation of a school without certification, it has been learnt.

Capital Hill’s failure to issue the certificates means all private schools have, for almost four years, been operating illegally, and will continue doing so until the certificates are issued.school_students

It also means anyone can open a school even without government’s consent and requirements needed to run education institutions.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the launch of a quiz competition for private schools in Blantyre on Saturday, president of the Independent Schools Association of Malawi (Isama), Joseph Patel, demanded immediate action from government.

He said: “Ministry of Education [Science and Technology-MoEST] officials have been telling us that they want to improve features on the certificates and that these certificates will no longer be issued by the director of basic education, but the Department of Inspectorate and Advisory Service.

“But it is taking too long. At the moment, anyone can open a school and no one will check their operations, or if they qualify to run a school. We are all operating illegally, but this is not our fault, it is government’s failure.”

Patel alleged that some MoEST inspectors in the Northern Region have been demanding bribes from private schools “to write good reports about their operations”.

Quality education activist BenedictoKondowe said the situation exposes government’s abdication of its regulatory and parental role in the education sector.

“This confirms government’s lack of commitment and political will to see to it that we have provision of quality education in the country and signifies lack of capacity by government to enforce its own  laws.

“It is also an indirect acceptance by government that anyone can open schools and operate willy-nilly. This is why we are seeing people operating schools in poor structures and are using unqualified teachers. Do you then expect education standards to improve?” fumed Kondodwe who is also executive director of Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec).

However, MoEST Deputy Minister Vincent Ghambi expressed ignorance about reports that some government inspectors are demanding money from private school owners.

He said: “About certificates, I will take it up with officials in the ministry and see where the issue is. But rest assured that government is committed to ensuring that quality education is provided in the country.”

Economic liberalisation in the mid-1990s saw the proliferation of private schools in the country with some located in premises or locations deemed not fit for students’ concentration. This has prompted education activists to demand some level of regulation and control from authorities.

Related Articles

Back to top button