Govt officials bang heads over reopening of colleges to beef up health workers workforce
July 26, 2020
Owen Khamula -Nyasa Times 8 Comments
Government says Ministry of Education officials are banging heads to find out how best to reopen some institutions of higher learning on case by case basis.
NyaLonje:We must challenge ourselves to take bold decisions
Minister of Education Agnes NyaLonje says with Covid-19 cases increasing daily, the necessary skillset required to fight the pandemic may at some point fall short and not be enough if drastic positive decisions are not made by the Ministry she heads.
She gave an example of nurses, doctors, technology experts, laboratory technicians, research scientists and researchers as among other skills that are crucial if Malawi is to manage and win the fight against the pandemic.
“We must challenge ourselves to take bold decisions. All high skilled frontline labour is affected by the pandemic and we might run short of those skills soon,” said NyaLonje.
She gave an example of Daeyang Luke University which was only two weeks away from graduating a fresh cohort of nurses and other medical staff and also College of Medicine that was only eight weeks away from graduating doctors and other specialists when schools were closed in March.
“If such and other colleges can demonstrate that they are able to follow the minimum guidelines to protect both students and lecturers, then we will allow them to re-open and serve as well as save the nation,” said the minister adding, “We need to change our mindset of applying one solution fits all.”
NyaLonje further opined that: “in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the world, Malawi inclusive, is seeking for Public Health experts, and as a sector, we must be ready to provide them.
She emphasized that her approach is focused on systematic solution provision by Government.
NyaLonje said as the Tonse Government continues on its path to transform Malawi from the pangs of poverty and doldrums of economic stagnation, the country will need all the expertise it can get from both the public and private Universities.
She said in that regard, the case by case review will not only be limited to the health and medical fields but across the board as all skills are required bearing in mind that the world has not stopped.
The new Minister of Education said would take the issue and engage her counterparts in the Presidential Taskforce so that a quick decision can be made.
NyaLonje made the points above when she together with Deputy Minister Minister Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima met members of the Association of Private Universities of Malawi Friday in Blantyre.
Baseless decision. These experts are already there on the job market. All they are waiting for is employment. Simply release adverts, you will be overwhelmed with the number of applications you will receive. Government two months ago conducted interviews for HSAs,but up until today, nothing is said about it. Today you decide to come up with this nosense. Manyaka a boma.
Nabetha
3 years ago
They don’t really have to open all the colleges, they could simply offer apprenticeship opportunities to those students who are interested or have the relevant knowledge or skills. They simply have to come up with draft procedure and policy guideline to facilitate this ….that’s what other countries have done.
Ad Phiri
3 years ago
The problem is that it all depends on Ministry of Health and not Education.
Solomon Nqumayo
3 years ago
Nyalonje is talking sence , however the idea of running short of experts bears minor truth coz malawi is currently crusttered with unemployed health graduates since the gone gvt damped the employment cuture
beautiful Malawi
3 years ago
good thinking woman minister a big up ,colleges and other institutions should open please
Ad Phiri
3 years ago
The issue about health workers is that there are thousands out there already qualified and these are not being employed. Let us start with these.
Luchenza fan
3 years ago
This is the type of Minister we need in Malawi. Very professional and uses her head when talking. She is showing us how to work with stakeholders
Lots of unemployed medical personnel out there.it is strange that the minister is talking as if we have a shortage of frontline workers.recently the govt invited medical workers for open interviews,we saw what happened.it is becoming clear that this new administration is clueless on how to handle covid 19 situation.
Baseless decision. These experts are already there on the job market. All they are waiting for is employment. Simply release adverts, you will be overwhelmed with the number of applications you will receive. Government two months ago conducted interviews for HSAs,but up until today, nothing is said about it. Today you decide to come up with this nosense. Manyaka a boma.
They don’t really have to open all the colleges, they could simply offer apprenticeship opportunities to those students who are interested or have the relevant knowledge or skills. They simply have to come up with draft procedure and policy guideline to facilitate this ….that’s what other countries have done.
The problem is that it all depends on Ministry of Health and not Education.
Nyalonje is talking sence , however the idea of running short of experts bears minor truth coz malawi is currently crusttered with unemployed health graduates since the gone gvt damped the employment cuture
good thinking woman minister a big up ,colleges and other institutions should open please
The issue about health workers is that there are thousands out there already qualified and these are not being employed. Let us start with these.
This is the type of Minister we need in Malawi. Very professional and uses her head when talking. She is showing us how to work with stakeholders
Lots of unemployed medical personnel out there.it is strange that the minister is talking as if we have a shortage of frontline workers.recently the govt invited medical workers for open interviews,we saw what happened.it is becoming clear that this new administration is clueless on how to handle covid 19 situation.