Rumphi school girl pens open letter to Mutharika on university selection: Quota system is bad
A letter by an 18-year-old girl, Deborah Confidence Msukwa, from Rumphi Secondary School, is trending on social media purportedly meant for the eyes of the President Peter Mutharika asking for consideration for selection into any of the public universities she applied having scored a good 17 points at Malawi Schools Certificate of Education (MSCE).
Her argument is that the 17 points do suffice for her to be considered for university selection from her six choices of Public Administration at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) as first choice; Bachelor of Education (Computer Science) also as UNIMA as second choice; Bachelor of Education (ICT) Mzuzu University as third choice; Bachelor of Science in Business Information Technology at Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) as her 4th choice; Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management (Land & Water) at Lilongwe University of Natural Resources (LUANAR) as her 5th choice and Bachelor of Commerce (Entrepreneurship) at UNIMA as her 6th choice.
“Your Excellency Sir, is it true that [I am not fit for] any of the 6 choices listed above? Is it true that a girl child like me should fail to attain tertiary education because of [quota] system?
“Why should the awards ‘Life Concern’ used to give me as BEST GIRL CHILD STUDENT in Rumphi District be in vain? The DPP Manifesto indicates you will promote education in all sectors – especially the girl child education.
“Is this what you mean you will do? I believe the answer is NO. Both you and the First Lady are learned people. As Professors, you cannot allow my future be doomed like this. I have full confidence you will dearly help me because my father and mother cannot afford to make me learn through private universities,” writes Deborah.
According to her, she scored 2 points in Bible Knowledge; 2 points in Social Studies; 3 points in English; 3 points in Mathematics; 3 points in Physical Science and 4 points in Agriculture, making a total of 17 points.
“I am writing this letter because I have seen that crying will not help but rather cause me to suffer from High Blood Pressure, something not worthy to an 18-aged young girl like me.
“It is because I have rejected to die young that is why I have resorted into writing you this letter with full confidence that you will hear and address my concern.
“I was not happy with the results because some of the subjects were not marked well. I, however, simply accepted them because I saw that they still give me access to go to the university.
“When time came for university applications to the 2018/19 PU Admissions National Council for Higher Education, I submitted my forms. Today, Your Excellency Sir, all University campuses has released their 2019 selected students taken to start their studies in various programs.
“My name appears nowhere, Sir. At first I thought maybe I have been left because my grades were too high others were too good but when I saw some of my friends who had points above me then I realised this is the work of the quota system your government continues to champion.
“A very good example is Mphatso Chirwa, who had 18 points and is taken to study Commerce. I will be dearly waiting your immediate reply,” writes Deborah.
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I was left out because of quota and as an orphan my future was doomed but God open a great door and now am a chartered accountant receiving big money. Sure there is no quota with God ………………..on 21 May we are not just voting for a president but against quota as well Chilima have our votes
Quota system is bad, period.
It is not equitable but inequitable and unfairly applied. It is disriminatory.
Atumbuka ndinu olemela kale. Sasonkhelanani mwana uyu mumutumize to Harvard.
Koma anthu AKUMPOTO muzasiya liti khalidwe lozikonda? 17 points ndikachaniso my young brother has scored 12 points but he never do this kind of nonsense, why too much greedy???
Winston, if you talk about education i made it bro. When you failed us to go to UNIMA i managed to sneak out of Malawi. And am happily employed in corporate banking on real merit. Not your mbwenu mbwenu interviews
Hmm. Am i the only one here shocked to hear that the chief tribalistic /racist James did his tertiary out of this country yet he acts old like the Mchacha. If you lived America or any other developed countries you must have been experienced some sort of discrimination similar to what people in the north are subjected and yet you are writing all sort of hate shits against what you call mbwenu mbwenu. Shame on you jack ass!
Am i the only one here shocked to hear that the chief tribalistic /racist James did his tertiary out of this country yet he acts old like the Mchacha. If you lived in America or any other developed countries you must have experienced some sort of discrimination similar to what people in the north are subjected to — and yet here you are writing all sort of hate shits against what you call mbwenu mbwenu. Shame on you jack ass!
Iam sorry JAMES,you might have lost your senses or you have nothing to contribute because you are an embacile.What I have to tell you is that you are among those people who hate and despise Northerners and you are one of themThe fact of the matter is that I love my country and its people morethan you do and I treat all the same and,to you,everything north is stinky.If you like quota system,it’s your choice but,I will criticise you for tribalism and being non-Malawian. While in exile, most of my friends,came from Central and South Malawi,but sometimes I agreed to disagree.How could you react if Quota System was imposed to the people of South and Central? Personally,i wonder whether you ever went school,to me you look like you have never been in school you guile. if quota system was imposed on other countris in Africa,people could have been swimming in COLD-BLOOD but,the Northerners ignored and prayed to our God the Almighty.So,James I do not care where you come from but,try to go to school again and learn more.LONG LIVE CHILIMA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you are not tribalistic, why do you think that quota system aims at victimizing northerners only,bearing in mind that there are a lot of students left out from other regions who scored better marks than Deborah. That shows that the students from North matters more to you than those from Chiladzulu, Mwanza Mtchinji etc. By the way a white man who claims not to be resist is more resist. Same to you, you claim not to be trablistic but the painting is all over your posts on Nyasatimes that proved that you are indeed trablistic.
This shows that we have a lot of ignorant people in Malawi….Read what Bingu had said in defense of Quota system!!!!!!! He attacked everyone from the north working at Capital Hill & NGOs…..Have you forgotten what he said about students in public universities especially those from the north? And indeed what he said about Mzuzu corner @ CHANCO? The introduction of quota was meant to suppress those from the north. …Most Parents from the north now tell their children to work extra harder because with average grades like 16, 17, and above cannot make it nowadays….So the pro-quota campaign has yielded the opposite results…..more students from that region working harder than their counterparts from other regions who have been promised to make it on a silver platter….Little wonder, if you have ever been to Catholic University, Adventist, DMI, and any other private universities you will know what I mean. Those universities are full of students from the north now because public universities reject them on account of their homes of origin….Mulungu samagona, achita zozizwitsa pompano
Its you James the jack ass who tribalist ..Get lost. You are very dangerous. Go join Wandale and form your country of Mulanje, Thyolo, and Phalome. Mwatizunza kwambiri anthu achilomwe inu. Zipitani kumene munachokera ku Mozambique Milanje uko. You are the reason why this country is going to the drain
Nowadays education is for rich people.But Confidence don’t lose heart joy will come in the morning
THE BOTH MUTHALIKAS WERE BORN TRIBALISTS AND MONEY LOVING CREATURES.We the Rumphi diasporas proudly and strongly support the young girl for her nationalistic stance to remind Muthalika that he is not fit to run our government for the betterment of all the citizens of Mother Malawi.It is sad that Malawi is the only regime in Africa to establish the brutal system that brutalities the human rights of the selected indigenous people.Once late Bingu Muthalika had this to say i quote: EVERY OFFICE I ENTER I FIND THE NORTHERNERS AND YET THESE PEOPLE ARE BY FAR THE MINORITY IN THE COUNTRY.HIS BROTHER MATHANYULA REFERRED TO KAMLEPO KARUA AS I QUOTE; THAT MAN FROM THE NORTH.These two bedfellows were not to be elected to the highest position of the land.No matter what,northerners will remain as human beings as others.In Zambia,Keneth Kaunda,became the first President of the nation and yet his father and mother also came from the North Nkhata Bay and Rumphi.,Clement Kadali from Nkhata Bay also formed the first African Trade Union in Sauth Africa,In the Congo,Patrice Lumumba appointed Mr.R.Kamanga as the first Minister of Education,in Tanzania,J.Shaba was appointed Minister of Agricuture,Mr Shaba comes from Mzimba.Dr.C.Mtawale from Mlowe N.Region was appointed PS in the Ministry of Health soon after independence just to end there, because the list is long.For the nations’good,we are very positive that Chilima when he comes into power,he will implement his dream.LONG LIVE MPOTO AND MALAWI AS A WHOLE and together we can build the SWITZELAND OF AFRICA.
What about you Winston Msowoya. Every comment you post its either North this North that. You never spoke about Malawi as a whole. Thats shows that you are the most tribalistic which is in your nerves. Even where you are working i dont think you can hire a qualified non Tumbuka person, you would rather opt for the unqualified Tumbuka speaking Mzara in the name of merit. Useless Tumbuka boy. This gal has scored 17 points and you are protesting as why she never been selected to go to University. To you a student with 8 points from Mangochi is not good enough but a 17 points Tumbuka student is more deserving.
VOTE FOR DR SAULOS KLAUS CHILIMA WHO HAS ALREADY SAID NO TO QUOTA SYSTEM. HE HAS EVEN SAID IT IS EVIL. HE is the ONLY ONE who is set to END THIS BAD SYSTEM. DR SAULOS KLAUS CHILIMA BOMA!!!!!!! UTM BOMA!!!!!!
My brother with 14 points has been dropped. Mind you the guys was at a bad CDSS and is the best student in his cohort.
Quota system, when equitably applied, is quite a good affirmative system. It helps students who are ethnically or demographically disadvantaged to get into tertiary education. It could be girl child, or a kid from rural areas where education materials are scarce. I’m Malawi, the argument was that students from northern region and districts like Ntcheu, Mchinji, Mangochi were populating the University more than other regions or districts. Hence need for students from Mwanza or Neno, who sometimes could entirely miss university due to poor grades, could also have the chance. Granted, this could have easily been factored into the selection system without jeopardizing deserving students who scored above average. However, the noble aim that Kamuzu regime wanted to promote was hijacked by evil minds whose sole aim was not quota or affirmative system, but to cull students from the North from attaining higher education. Pure evil. Please bring the intended affirmation selection, not this evil act that is condemning Malawi into mediocrity in education. It’s very possible to affirm students who are disadvantaged without jeopardizing the future of brilliant students. Let not God punish you because of tribal hatred. We are all Malawians and equal before the Lord.
This quota system is very bad mwana wakwithu, Chakwera gonna abolish this stupid system
That’s the reason these pathetic devils have to go.
Okhonza ma ma 17 points even kumwela alipo sanasakhidwe. Malo ndi wochepa ku ma University. People must understand the qouta system is sharing equally. Akatenga kumpoto athu wonse a ma 17 point ndikuzazitsa ma university wonse, then what will happen kwa athu akumwela amene akhonza even 8 points? Anazthu aku mpoto amaziganizila wokha basi.
SOME PEOPLE JUST ARGU TO BE HEARD AND THIS YOUNG GIRL IS REMINDNIG THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENSURING QUALITY AND EQUITABLE EDUCATION THAT CAN BE ATTAINED BY ANYONE IN THE COUNTRY. ALL OUR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES ARE DOING WELL IN EDUCATION BECAUSE THE SYSTEM OF THEIR EDUCATION DOES NOT ALLOW QUOTA SYSTEM TO PREVAIL AND STUDENTS ARE SELECTED BASED ON MERIT.
If you feel its qoata system then check with MANEB on position you were with that 17 points and see if you are within those number taken
No matter how bright you are young lady, life is in favour of the rich now. Rich people send there kids to private schools where everyone receives 10 pts and gets selected.
The Evil in Quota System is this Thing of Selecting Students Based on the Population Size of their District …Automatically it Means Districts with Smaller Populations are Affected…If they Had Maintained Zija za Ten Places Each District then The Rest based on Merit…Koma Anatoona kuti Apange Target Anthu Ena Ake…
I think the quota system has not played well with you Deborah the issue is not quota system the issue is the competition.Remember in Malawi education is no longer a right is a priviledge take heart try next year you maybe will be picked but from the look of things your grades are good but maybe next year you might face high competition i have friends who scored 7,10,13,14,15,16 points they were left.for you to understand this quota system not from political point of view revisit what quota system is?
You are sick
I have a nephew with some points as Deborah’s but he was also not selected. The truth is really competition not quota. I feel sorry for her because she has been grossly misinformed about quota system. The system is good and it is being used in so many countries in so many sectors. The problem is when it is being politicized. Both the government and politicians especially from the north are fueling this issue. Quota allows all deserving students to go to university but also it makes sure that university education is shared for the development of the whole country. Deborah, please also remember that going to government university was more valuable in the past when fees were low but now the difference that is there is not really much. Try to apply to other private universities and apply for a government loan (no quota there). Remember successful people like Teleza Ndanga, who is a chair for a media fritenity in Malawi and the organizer of Presidental debates this year got a government loan. Dont give up, you will make it. And please learn to understand things on a wider scale rather than from the northen point of view. You are a Malawian first. Offcause, where ever there is an injustice, you have all the right to stand up. I am wishing well and may God provide your needs.
Step lying. Are you another thief?
No student from a particular tribe or belt would be left out with such grades. You can’t substantiate your false claims, can you?
If friends with those points were left out, then, Malawi’s quota system is running counter to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 which entails UN member states to “To provide equitable and inclusive education for all”. The target of this goal is, among others, to ensure that boys and girls complete tertiary education if they so qualify. Besides, it entails the government to built more universities for the enrollment of students in higher education. Increasing access to higher education is seen as an important means of achieving many other development goals, including reducing poverty or illiteracy. As for Deborah, please try to apply to any Zambian University i.e. Mulungushi University or Lusaka University or Copper Belt University or Iringa University in Tanzania which is closer to Karonga District in Malawi. Cast your net wider. Do no rely on public universities in Malawi where once’s admission is based on ethnicity or district of origin or where one comes from as demanded by the framers of Quota System.
Chalo chamala ichi. Pepa mwana wakwithu
SHAME on DPP
Chitima chandikora wamwana Deborah where is AFORD and simbi yamoto
Chitima chikukoleni. Koma muzidziwa kuti pali ena amene ali more qualified that Deborah from Machinga, Mangochi, Zomba etc. Anasiyidwa chifukwa malo ndi ochepa. Osati quota system mzara. Ndiye mukafuna kuti a Deborah apite ku UNIMA chifukwa ndi a ku mpoto ndizija mumkapanga kale zija zomangozazana in the name of merit.