Malawi opposition blocks school fees hike: Jumbe moved motion
Opposition parliamentarians on Thursday successfully forced the government to postpone its fee hike in colleges and secondary schools until the economic situation improves.
Salima Central MP Felix Jumbe (Malawi Congress Party) had moved a motion to stop the government from implementing its decision to increase school fees in public colleges and secondary schools, in some instances were going as high as more than 100 per cent.
Jumbe had asked the government to provide resources to the government for the education sector make primary education compulsory and postpone the raising of the fees until the government makes sure that the economy is improved and the living cost of an ordinary Malawian is brought down through the reduction of inflation, stability of exchange rate among others.
He said it was inconsiderate for the government to raise the school and college fees when Malawians spend US $1:9 per day and their per capita is at US $280 when Mozambique enjoys per capita of US $600, the same per capita with Tanzania.
Jumbe said 70 per cent of Malawians are extremely poor with the highest interest rate in Africa after South Sudan, a country that has been at war for many decades.
He said the inflation rate, an indication that food prices are up, is at an all time high and feared in March, it might be out of hand; saying the exchange rate, currently at K580 will get worse in March pushing the cost of living for most Malawians beyond reach.
“This year, the FiSP pack is costing at K9000, this is the person who has to pay this yet he or she did not yield anything due to floods or drought. How do you expect this person to pay this FISP fee and school fees?”asked Jumbe.
He said the government should improve the economic situation first before affecting the school fee hike.
His sentiments were shared by almost all opposition legislators including Leader of the opposition Lazarus Chakwera.
The move to thwart the motion was denied by Speaker Richard Msowoya, who said the legislator for Salima Central, Jumbe followed all the procedures to move the motion.
However, minister of Justice Samuel Tembenu said parliament had no powers to suspend or stop any decisions by the executive arm of government.
He read relevant laws and relevant standing orders to back his point.
But when the House voted, the opposition won the vote which means the government cannot implement the raising of the fees. It is yet to be seen whether this will be followed.
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Bravo MP Jumbe kumeneko anthu ndalama akazitenga kuti?Mubweze ndalama munaba zija ana aphunzire
Mukweze Kaye malipiro a wanthu musanakweze malipiro a sukulu.Zisakomere Mbuzi kugunda agalu.
Ganizirani osauka ambiri sakwanitsa kulipira Ine ndikuthokoza Jumbe. koma next time mukambirane kuti onse amene anatenga ngongole ya unima ali ku sukulu apanidwe ndipo anwenzde kuti enanso aphundireko
bravo mcp kwaena tonse amene zatiwawa tikagule panado timwele , kaboma kanu aka ndi kammanja tilanulira limozi hehede !!!!!!
Now we ar getting somewhere. If the same useless parliament of the kanthitis passed a law that empowers the UNIMA to handles its own school fees, then its time these MPs ahould left naked on these issue. Come on UNIMA.
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Even TUM should raise its head up against these idiot kanthitis for acting beyond the arm of their laws. Come on please. Your reforms should not be disturbed at all.
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Parents should stand up against these useless opposition parties of Malawi.
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If Govt say there is no money to run the schools what will Jumbe do? Tembenu read the University Acts which were passed by Parliament itself giving powers to University Councils on matters of fees. This is the first time in the history of Malawi where fees issue is decided by Parliament. I am yet to see any country in the world where fees are determined in Parliaments. Politicization of everything is killing this nation. I hope next time Parliament will stop by pass fees or user fees in Hospitals nanga sakufuna kushaina.
Parliament approves budgets. That’s why these adjustments were supposed to be brought before parliament budget session (2015/2016) so that educational funding was to reflect an increase in income through fee hike. I hope this answers your question. Otherwise the government has been caught unawares here and \i hope next time they will not goof again!!
but you MPS munafunsa ndani ? cause this issue of school fees, parents and PTA m’ma school ambiri tinakambilana kale kuti fees ikwele but boma limalesa. so inu mumaimila Ndani kodi ask azibale anu amene ali ndi ana my school za boma, makolo tinagwilizana nazo, but you honorable members muzufunsa Kaye please ask TUM they will tell you this
Man of the moment BUT BUT>>>>who will cover the costs the hike was expected to cover or cushion? is there a revised budget for schools and the university…the proposal to stop the hike should be holistic? While the opposition have made a point and scored some points, the ruling government should revisit how it makes its decision. there is a trend to propose something and the reverse it after opposition goes against it. This is obviously a weakness on the process of reforms being undertaken.. without being informed by actual situation on ground. Government should stop working on a trial… Read more »
Those MPS who opposed school fee hike are hybrid type of fools. They are fighting government reforms. Useless. they are looking at anything from political point of view.
Government is busy borrowing for consumption leaving education, a crucial sector for development , to crumble. Mutharika must stand up and lead please! Why should parliament be in the fore front directing the nation in the right direction while the president is nowhere to be seen as his cabinet is busy tearing the nation apart.