The Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) has questioned the eligibility of students from what it calls expensive secondary schools for the 2013 government‘s sponsorship to the University of Malawi (Unima) and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar).
Government this week released names of those selected to the two universities. A summary of the results shows that of the11 539 students who sat for the exams, 10 328 passed and 1 909 have been selected.
However, for the first time, students have been categorised into government sponsored and self-sponsored.
Csec executive director Benedicto Kondowe in an interview on Monday said government should come in the open to explain how it decided on the mode of sponsorship.
Kondowe said it was shocking to note a number of students from high schools and other expensive schools on government sponsorship which is meant for the needy students.
“A right thinking human being should be able to note that students from Kamuzu Academy, St Andrews or Kalibu Academy are better placed to pay fees than those from rural schools.
“In the absence of a statement, government cannot be trusted,” he said.
Director for Higher Education Dixie Maluwa Banda said Csec made a good observation on the sponsorship, but there are many things that come into play.
“Students from high schools are on government sponsorship because of their performance,” he said.
