The equitable system of selecting students into Malawi’s public universities is yet to be abolished by government despite assurances by Capital Hill that the system would cease by October 2012.
A number of sectors criticised the system, arguing it was discriminatory in nature and perceived as a tool for suppressing students from other corners of the country, who were deemed to be having a lion’s share in the public universities.
Meanwhile, various sources at Mzuzu University (Mzuni) confirmed selection of 385 students at the university, who are to report for classes in September, was based on quota as the 2009 circular has not been withdrawn to date.
Of the 385, there are over 280 selected on quota system as the system looks into 10 students per district and districts with higher populations also benefit more.
Mzuni registrar Vyson Jedegwa refused to grant an interview, arguing he needed guidance from the Vice-Chancellor to comment on the issue.
Ministry of Education spokesperson Lindiwe Chide referred the matter to the office of principal secretary.
Secretary for higher education Patrick Kabambe said he was not in a position to comment on the matter as he was new in the office.
Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) executive director Benedicto Kondowe has called on government to make public statement regarding its position on the matter rather than have citizens accuse institutions for continuing with the policy.
He said it is less inspiring to have government drag its feet silently on a policy whose intentions are suspicious and contentious.
Kondowe said government was cheating its own citizens by being silent on the matter, while Section 5 and 12 of the Constitution provides that it should be accountable to its citizens.
“In the absence of a clear statement from government on the quota against its implementation, you would not expect the public institutions [to] stop using the policy. This is the case because the policy has not been withdrawn or nullified,” said Kondowe.
