Luanar appeals for govt intervention

The Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) management has appealed to government to intervene on challenges the institution is facing.

University vice-chancellor Professor George Kanyama Phiri was speaking last Wednesday when Minister of Education, Science and Technology Dr Lucious Kanyumba visited the university campus in Lilongwe.

Kanyama Phiri cited overcrowding, insufficient laboratory equipment, limited and obsolete library resources and shortage of lecturers as some of Luanar’s challenges.

“Honourable Kanyumba ,during your tour, you saw first year students learning in very uncomfortable conditions. It is hot and humid in the marquee. You saw how 500 students are being taught using a public address system.

“We appeal to you to forward our challenges to the leadership to develop our capacity to meet the problems,” he said.

Kanyumba assured the vice-chancellor that government is addressing the challenges.

” As you know, Malawi has the lowest rate to access to higher education in the Sadc region. It is, therefore, essential that we address the issue,” he said.

Kanyumba said the construction of lecture rooms, offices and laboratories at the college will go a long way in solving some of Luanar’s challenges.

“Despite financial challenges the country is facing, we are committed to ensuring that the ongoing infrastructure [development] will be completed on time. We are also working with the World Bank on a Skills Development Project for Higher Education under which this university will be the beneficiary,” he said.

The minister also added that the Norwegian Government has a lined up a project to construct infrastructure at the university next year.