Chilima touts ODL as main weapon against quota system: SKC’s Imbizo talk on Malawi education
Vice-President Saulos Chilima has once again pleaded with the electorate to register and vote en-masse in next year’s elections, warning that failure to remove the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from power spells doom for the country.
Chilima, who is leading the newly established United Transformative Movement (UTM) was on Tuesday on his Imbizo tour (Mchezo ndi a Chilima) from Mangochi to the Capital City Lilongwe.
Imbizo is a Ngoni term for traditional discussion forums a western equivalent of townhall meetings.
Responding to a question at Mangochi Turn-Off during his Imbizo – Mchezo ndi a Chilima on how he will abolish quota system of selecting students into public universities considering lack of space in universities, Chilima hinted on one of his strategies.
“We are living in times of technology and our friends elsewhere have embraced technology to enroll thousands of students per intake, and that is what we will do,” he said.
Chilima said most Malawian are already getting masters degrees through Open Distance Learning (ODL) using internet connectivity.
“We will support universities to establish ODL facilities that will be accessible to students wherever they may be through simple connectivity,” he elaborated.
He cited uses of connected TV screens for lessons, use of IP cameras to monitor examinations and use of eLibraries for access of learning materials.
Hundreds of people attended the Imbizo – Mchezo ndi A Chilima at Liwonde and Mangochi Turn Off.
At the time of posting this online, Chilima was continuing with his stops which will end in Ntcheu this evening.
Chilima, UTM Bus Company yacheyo ndi za chibwana zachezo akagwere!
This baby has been exposed (judging by the comments) as not well informed, or even misinformed on an important issue in our country. And his solution is poppy cock …
Koma ziliko eh. Proving every day that he would be a disaster. Talk about kakistocracy or rule by the worst!
People don’t understand ODL is done but on a very small scale, we need it on all programmes, look at they way we rank, no where in the world
After reading all your comments, I have come to the conclusion that Chilima is not ready to govern because he does not know what to do with the country. All he knows is that there is massive corruption and he will attempt to deal with it!
I almost laughed at this kind of childishness. we want our children to go to college and be in class before a lecturer not sit at home on a computer play games and learn then go out to smoke ganja and drink beer. ODL is good for post graduates and those matured and working class. on 0.001% of form four pupils will be interested.
Quota system is about selection criteria. Are the people who are going to be selected to do the ODL (which is already in existence by the way) be chosen according to district of origin, You cant just say ODL without having a criteria of how. Is it going to be ODL like private colleges who are just there for the money. Government universities are supposed to be where the cream of the crop in Malawi should go. How do we choose the cream, is the question, not how are we going to teach the cream.
Ena akuti ODL siingatheke kumudzi , aaaah just check with TNM, AIRTEL how many use 4G in rural areas ,villages
nzomwezotu inu. Wake up
Is that your quota system abolishment plan on the desk? I am not convinced.
Spot on Chilima. The world is moving into 4th Industrial Revolution and digital world. Malawi should be positioned to leapfrog from its slumber to embracing this Internet of Things technology to advance education, health and communication etc
This has nothing to do with abolition of quota system. Quota system means placing all candidates in a pool and then rank them according to a systematic criterion where a cut off point is determined in line with available spaces in the universities. However, remember that there are academic choices to be considered. Say for argument’s sake 200 top candidates chose Medicine as their first choice of study against availability of 100 places, what will happen to the other 100, assuming their second and third choices have been taken up by other students already? Quota system helps to remove apparent… Read more »
It is not true that quota system removes apparent figures that skew IQ distribution in the country. In fact quota system is an injunction that restrains specific students from specific catchment areas by virtue of their district of origin or tribe. In all its ramifications is the practice of favouring specific candidates at the expense of others who excel in university admissions on the basis of district of origin, region or tribe. Its application denies meritorious candidate admissions into universities. That criteria is portrayed in the manner in which the selection is used. In Malawi, its use has specifically targeted… Read more »
Quota system is EVIL as it punishes the hard working. And yes, distance learning is the way forward. We’ve got the open university in the UK. One of the best/biggest and yes online. Come on Chilima, ndiwe wanzeru.
ODL inayamba kaletu kaya, inu simukudziwa, MZUNI, LUANAR are offering ODL
Chilima doesn’t know what he is talking about. ODL strategy is already being implemented in Malawi, but has it addressed the problem? Besides, ODL students are not selected using quota system. How is it going to address the quota problem? Kungothamangira kulonjeza aMalawi zinthu zoti simukudziwa mmene zikuchitikira. Useless UTM. You have lost my vote.