Unima architecture graduates petition APM, Chibungu and MIA
Graduate architects who studied at The Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima), have petitioned President Peter Mutharika, Ministry of Lands and Housing and Urban Development, and Malawi Institute of Architects (MIA) to intervene on the architecture programme impasse that has left over 200 half-baked architects stranded in the industry.
In 2004, Unima revised the architecture programme at The Polytechnic, aligning it with similar programmes offered in other Commonwealth countries. People studying the programme are to study for seven years to become architects and get registered.
Of the seven years, four years qualify one for the award of a bachelor of science degree in architectural studies, one year is for professional practice in the industry before the students go back for their final year at school in pursuit of a professional postgraduate qualification. The students are then to undergo another year of professional practice in the industry which would prepare them for the professional examination that would see them become fully qualified architects.
Following inception of the revised programme, the first cohort that underwent the four-year study at The Polytechnic graduated in 2007 and seven other cohorts have also undergone the programme.
However, eight years have elapsed without the graduates returning to school for further training to necessitate acquisition of a postgraduate qualification and later industrial training that would see them undergo a professional examination to become architects.
The current situation has seen the graduates failing to get registered as architects; hence, affecting their aspirations and personal development. The development has forced the half-baked architects to petition Mutharika, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and MIA to intervene on the matter.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, one of the graduate architects Amos Kalua who, alongside Christopher Pondani, signed the petition on behalf of the concerned architects, confirmed petitioning the authorities.
“The number of these graduates is now in excess of 200 and eight years down the line, the first batch of graduates from the programme is yet to return to school to complete the final year, that year which is meant to prepare the graduates for the professional registration to practice architecture in Malawi.
“Meanwhile, they have remained professionally stagnated and there seems to be no end in sight to the stagnation. This is very unfair not only because it is unnecessarily delaying their career pursuits, but also seeing that they could have easily pursued other programmes which could have prepared them all the way through to the award of the requisite qualifications for professional registration such as engineering, law and medicine.
“It is in light of this that we hereby call on the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malawi for the immediate commencement of the programme, which is already at least six years late,” reads the petition.
Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Paul Chibingu said he was yet to get the petition. However, he said he needed to consult on the problems facing the industry.
Efforts to get views from MIA proved futile as Omar PaisonKaisi said his term as president of the institution expired and he did not have powers to comment on the matter. MIA is yet to hold an annual general meeting to choose leaders.
Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) executive director BenedictoKondowe said the university lacks strategic direction on handling of its programmes which leaves a number of students without proper skills.
