CSEC to pressure Malawi govt to introduce tax measures for financing education sector
The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) and its member organisations have teamed up in what they call a “tax justice movement” that will be lobbying for fair tax collection deals to finance Malawi’s “troubled” education sector.
This was made known Tuesday in the Capital, Lilongwe, during a tax justice meeting organized by CSEC to enable the coalition’s members strategize on how they would go about advancing their movement and advocacy.
CSEC Board Chairperson, Jennifer Mkandawire, told Nyasa Times that their focus is mainly on the cost of financing the new ten year (2020-2030) Malawi Ministry of Education National Education Investment Plan (NESIP), saying the plan has a funding gap estimated at MK5.1 trillion.
Information Nyasa Times has seen shows that the cost of financing NESIP is estimated at MK9.8 trillion with resources from government projected at MK4.1 trillion.
“We want to focus on how do we ensure that the government collects the MK5.1 trillion. How do we guide or provide information to help government raise such funds.
“A lot of financial resources, whether tax or donor aid, are lost through corruption. We want to ensure that government strengthens the tax collection systems by sealing all corruption holes so that, as a nation, we are able to collect enough resources to finance crucial sectors such as education,” said Mkandawire.
She further said the financing to education should focus more especially on school infrastructure, noting that an estimated 2.1 million children in Malawi are still learning under trees.
Mkandawire also said there is need for money to train more teachers and buy learning materials.
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To be honest, education in Malawi is in troubled waters, especially primary education. I don’t understand why govt can’t invest enough money in building strong infrastructure in terms of primary schools and secondary schools. We are waiting for other countries to chip in for us. We need financial independence. Unfortunately our government is run by people who feel happy to beg and so they won’t spin us into an independent nation. High quality education starts with high quality infrastructure. Look at the private schools, there I can happily pay K100,000 for my child to attend kindergarten. They have high quality… Read more »
Malawi Govt Should take strict Measures on Population Growth as Malawis Population have grown Too Fast and Resources have Shrunk that’s why Malawian Children are Not getting Quality Education and Due to Corruption and Mismanagement of Funds we do not see the Funds with Schools and Teachers are Not Paid on Time
What is MCP+UTM doing Nothing?
Another tax?. No, rather tax based on the number of children. It will deter these huge families. Why must I pay for a person with 4 children when I have 1 or 2. It is just not right. Moreover such ideas will only increase the family size. Let’s revert to paying fees and do things properly. Quality education. Only God gives free stuff, life, air, sun etc. For the rest of us we have to live by our sweat not freebies
Of course it is a bit complex than that, komabe I agree with you ndithu