Activist says Malawi education budget cut is senseless

A renowned  activist on education issues has described as senseless government decision to cut public education budget by K500 million, arguing some schools are using one text book for a whole class.

Benedicto Kondowe was reacting to government cut of the ministry of Education because the ministry will not need the financial resources from now until June 2017.

“Some schools are using one text for the whole class, government is failing to employ 90000 more teachers because of money, the government is failing to upgrade community day secondary schools to teach science subjects,” said Kondowe.

He said Malawians should not sit back and watch as their government is making senseless decisions but should instead condone and hold the government account for its decision.

Opposition members of parliament vehemently rejected the government decision to cut the budget but they were defeated in a vote and the reduced budget passed.

The government instead increased budgetary allocations to State Residences, the official home of President Peter Mutharika and the Office of the President and Cabinet, the official office of Mutharika.

Opposition legislators however are questioning the increases and the two votes have since been deferred to a later date for debate.