Polytechnic students out of Wednesday demos

Students from the Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima), are out of the Wednesday demonstrations initially planned in collaboration with Mzuzu University Students Representative Council (Musrec).
Polytechnic Students Union (PSU) and Musrec came up with plans for the demonstrations after the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST) refused to grant them an audience over the closure of the two institutions.
PSU wants government’s intervention on the fee hike issue, while Musrec wants government to address issues surrounding the sit-in by both academic and non-academic staff of the university which led to its closure.

Polytechnic College management postponed the opening of the First Semester of the 2015/2016 academic year on October 3 while Mzuni was closed indefinitely on November 7.
In a memo dated November 28 2016 which The Nation has seen signed by Polytechnic Students Union (PSU) General Secretary Chifundo Nkhata, the union said it has been advised by its lawyer not to take part in the demonstration due to the sensitivity of the case proceedings between University Council and PSU Council over implementation of the hiked fees.
“Due to the sensitivity of the case proceedings between University Council and PSU Council over implementation of the hiked fees, the PSU has been advised by its legal counsel to retract from participating in the joint demonstrations that are slated for November 30,” reads the statement in part.
PSU said the decision has been made to prevent any implications that might later compromise the case which is currently being settled by the parties involved.
The students have accused government of abandoning its responsibility, after MoEST told them to engage their respective councils on the matter.