Government delays paying for KA sponsored students

By last month, government owed Kamuzu Academy (KA) roughly K340 million (US$811 455.8) in unpaid school fees for Capital Hill sponsored students, Nation on Sunday has established.

Minister of Education, Science and Technology Lucious Kanyumba confirmed the unpaid fees in a recent interview.

He said by November, government had not paid K149 million (US$355 608) in fees arrears dating back to 2006.

He also said Capital Hill was yet to pay K191 million (US$455 847) for the newly-recruited students that enrolled in October. This brings the total owed to K340 million.

But a well-placed Kamuzu Academy source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said last month that government had not paid K300 million for sponsored students who have been at the school for the past seven years.

The source said the figure excludes 56 students (two from each district) who arrived in October this year “on orders from above”.

The source said the grammar school was reluctant to accept more sponsored students this year due to the fees arrears.

“Several letters have been written to government requesting payment, but to no avail. The current group was taken in on orders from above with a promise to pay.

“There are approximately 136 students on government scholarship,” he said.

The source said while the fees may be perceived as too high for government to manage, the idea of sponsored students was good for Malawi as it gives quality education to those who could otherwise not afford it.

He added that the institution has contributed leaders in such sectors as banking, private businesses and health; hence, the need to send more students there.

For the past two years, he said, over 60 of the academy’s graduates have gained admission to the College of Medicine.

But Kanyumba said in late November this year that government is committed to clear the arrears.

“For this current intake, we have an agreement with the school to settle the fees quarterly. Treasury has just funded us and we should be able to pay the first chunk soon,” he said.

Kanyumba said payment of the KA debt was divided into three parts: new students’ fees, continuing students and arrears dating back to 2006.

Thus, he said, while government owed a separate K109 million for the continuing students, this debt was settled when his ministry issued a cheque worth K136 million with an overage of K27 million.

“That balance was directed to reduce another debt amounting to K176 million for the arrears dating back to seven years ago, bringing the figure to K149 million as the only amount we owe the school, minus what I already alluded to the K191 million which has a separate agreement,” he said.