Govt concedes fees challenges among poor students

The Ministry of Education has admitted that despite resources invested in both secondary and higher education, some students in need of bursaries in the country have not been covered.

The ministry’s Principal Secretary Chikondano Mussa was reacting to The Nation’s observation that many students, both in secondary and tertiary education institutions, are still facing fees challenges and some even withdraw from school due to lack of tuition fees.

In a telephone interview, she admitted that despite there being a cohort tracking tool to inform them of the social position of learners across the country, the ministry does not have adequate resources for everyone.

However, Mussa said government assists according to the student’s level of vulnerability.

She said: “We have a criterion which shows which children can afford fees and which ones cannot. So, we know when children are withdrawn from school and which ones have to go on the bursary provision. We have the girls’ education fund whose job is to take care of such children, both boys and girls who are vulnerable.

“So, we are aware of the vulnerabilities and as government, we are providing a lot of resources for students at both secondary and higher education levels. You cannot expect the government to reach everyone in the country.”

And in written response, education activist Benedicto Kondowe feared that if unchecked, the many school dropouts by needy students has the potential to turn the right to education into a right for only those who have.

In terms of university loans for needy students, Kondowe said that the screening process to identify them must be watertight so that only needy students benefit.

In January 2023 for instance, a Stella Maris Secondary School student in Blantyre was sent back from school for failing to settle her tuition fees balance while an 18-year-old Likuni Boys Secondary School student in Lilongwe was on the verge of withdrawing when well-wishers came to his rescue.

Another 18-year-old boy who was selected to a conventional school in Chiradzulu could not go because of fees, and took up some piece work to pay K25 000 fees at a private school in Chileka. He missed the Junior Certificate Examinations last year for lack of examination fees.

Currently, resources for needy students include the government bursary for the secondary sub-sector; the government’s Higher Education Students Loans Board; Constituency Development Fund; and other Civil Society Organisations disbursing bursaries.