The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) on Ndata Farm in Thyolo will miss its scheduled opening date in January 2014 due to the incomplete state of the university and lack of funding, Nation on Sunday has learnt.
In a report submitted to the Education, Science and Human Resources Committee of Parliament on Wednesday, MUST management is asking Parliament to provide additional K2.67 billion development funds on top of the K1.1 billion allocated to the university during the mid-year budget review to enable it complete outstanding development issues.
Meanwhile, the university says it has resolved to turn some of its classrooms into laboratories, saying they are currently awaiting Office of the Director of Public Procurement (ODPP) approval to procure a contractor to do the job.
“While management is relentless on working towards the January 2014 opening date, given the delays that have been experienced so far, particularly in procurement of goods and services, the earliest the university can admit its first students shall be February 2014. This too shall depend on the availability of the required resources.
“It is very unlikely that the laboratories would be ready before January 2014. In view of the anticipated delay, the management team has sought the approval of the University Council to negotiate with College of Medicine and the Polytechnic to use their laboratory and workshop space to accommodate MUST students while awaiting the completion of the conversion works,” reads the submission in part.
The university further says Escom and Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) are yet to connect electricity and water to the institution.
In the submission, the university also highlights some items such as staff houses, telecommunication and various procurements costing about K5.47 billion (US$13.7 million) which it says are part of the things needed for the university to be fully operational.
It says the Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) has agreed to construct the initial six houses at K144 million (US$360 000) payable before commencement of the work, adding that installation of a fibre-optic line between Thyolo boma and MUST for telecommunication services will cost about K147.1 million (US$367 750).
In an interview on Thursday, Education, Science and Human Resources Committee chairperson Frank Elias Viyazyi said they are following up on the concerns of the university with relevant authorities.
“We want the university to open as scheduled and not to shift dates. We are checking with the other authorities on the allocation of funding to enable the university open its doors,” said Viyazyi.
