Malawi MPs pass bill to increase access to higher education
Malawi Parliament has approved a $50 million (about K20 billion) Loan Authorisation Bill for government to borrow funds from the World Bank to finance increasing access to higher education at the University of Malawi (Unima) colleges, vocational education provider Teveta and Mzuzu University (Mzuni).
When Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe tabled the Loan Authorisation Bill in Parliament during last sitting, the lawmakers rejected it.
But government engaged the MPs and persuaded them to support the design of high quality and relevant education programmes which would be delivered through open and distance learning (ODL).
The skills development project will target the three public colleges and Teveta with funding using disbursements linked indicators which means they will only be funded after meeting specific targets.
Out of the K20 billion loan, US$4.9 million (about MK 2 billion) is expected to be invested into higher learning institutions.
University courses under the Bill will be designed to equip students with skills that are in alignment with Malawi’s developmental needs said Gondwe.
The project encompasses all three public universities with inclusion of technical colleges under Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Training (TEVET).
The bill was rather passed without debate as all political parties took turns in expressing optimism on the positive development implications of the Bill.
Malawi Congress Party MP Jessie Kabwila said increasing access to tertiary education should go alongside infrastructure and human resource development.
Komanso umbuli ndiye ku Malawi wanyanya. Mpaka ena kumaganiza kuti ODL ndi ya aphunzitsi okha? Enafe si aphunzitsi koma tapangapo ODL ndi masukulu a kunja. Ku maiko ena ODL (Osati ya TTC) inayamba kale moti ifenso timachedwa.
Iwe Jebison else where if more than 10 students are withdrawn from the college the professors concerned are also fired why ? Because the profs. are considered to have failed in their mandate to deliver knowledge and skills to the students this becomes worrisome. wamva. whether with quota or no quota students are not supposed to be withdrawn. you do not go to university to pass exams but to learn how to educate yourself. Shupitiiiiii fotsekiiii
This is super though with the quota system I failed to access the unima studies, lets apload the govt for coming up with such a plan
ODL TEACHERS 6 MONTHS WITH OUT PAY HOW DO NEED LOAN FOR HIGH EDUCATION WHILE YOU ARE FAILING TO PAY primary teachers for 6 month .nonsense mr minister of finance
Donor money gets stolen so what is to say, borrowed money will be accounted for? I really wish the World Bank could grant this loan but without transparency and accountability in government, I find it difficult to believe anyone would like to risk a purportedly a good goal to educate masses and their good faith to loan even a penny to DPP led government who are silent on billions of unaccounted for dollars. Citizens of Malawi will pay through new sanctions after the loan is used to buy posh cars for MPs, Ministers, President and the delayed pay increase in… Read more »
At no 1 imeneyo si Crack koma nthambo za magetsi kapena ma loud speakers . Kungoti nkupanda luso chabe zimenezo bwezi atazidzeletsa pansi pakapeti bwino bwino anthu osamazionanso. Koma dikirani pang’ono wina akodwe ndiye agwe monga anagwera Mugabe muja.
Who ends up paying for this debt?
Where does the borrowed money end up? ( Pockets of cabinet ministers and their boot-lickers)!
What does a native Malawian benefit? — No one knows these days?
Mr Gondwe – where did you get the money to build your mansion? Cashgate?
All you corrupt leaders, soon you will face your punishment.
Fighting the monster of quota created by Daniel Phiri. Just accept you goofed big time inu a DPP. That’s why weeding levels have reached a record high at UNIMA.
Imeneyo klaki nde sanaiketu siment wabwino, Agondwe nanu ngati mufuna muvine honala mu bulufukesi mwanyamulamo chani?