Msaka praises Mutharika for fees abolition, quizzed by MPs

Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Bright Msaka, has praised President Peter Mutharika  for  the abolition of  K500 fees in conventional and community day secondary schools (CDSSs) effective September 2018 and additional K1 750 in January 2019.

Msaka said  in a ministerial statement he delivered in Parliament on Monday that Mutharika, as a global champion on education, had made it possible for all children, irrespective of their circumstances, to have equal access to secondary education.

“More importantly, the President removed these fees in order to create a conducive environment for building the human capital that Malawi needs for the attainment of our national development aspirations,” he said.

However, Msaka was quizzed by legislators on the matter which included  Mangochi South MP Lilian Patel (United Democratic Front –UDF) who  said she was surprised that some secondary school students in her constituency asked her to pay school fees for them.

Patel asked Msaka if the Ministry of Education has communicated about the fees abolition to district education managers and other district officials.

Msaka assured that the presidential directive has been communicated to all authorities.

“With the removal of the fees, government will not collect any monetary contributuions from students,” said Msaka.

Lilongwe North East MP Maxwell Thyolela (Malawi Congress Party –MCP), asked the Education Minister to explain what the government is doing on other types if fees such as examinations.

Msaka  pointed out that students will continue paying examination fees.

In total, government has abolished payment of K3 250 per pupil in all public secondary schools, thus; tuition fees K500 which is paid per term (K1500 per year), general purpose fund at K1 500 and text book revolving fund which is K250.

Recently, US Ambassador Virginia Palmer disclosed  that the decision is part of a memorandum of understanding with MoEST ahead of the construction of 256 secondary schools in the country.

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Mayeso
Mayeso
5 years ago

Ine sindikuzimvesa popeza ku CDSS timafunsidwa kulipira k8500? Nde imeneyo imapita kuti?

Black market
Black market
5 years ago

Follow if the Msaka children are in the public secondary schools where it is free. If not tell him to withdraw them n enroll in the government secondary schools.

Katakwe
5 years ago

Olemba nkhani you should know the difference between pupil and student. Don’t be like the Americans who mix up words. Ichitu ndi Chingerezi, if you like English and not otherwise.

chaione wawo
5 years ago

Am yet to be convinced on how the removal of approximately MK 4000 will enable the poor attend secondary school. Am sure there are more costs than 4000 even in the cheapest of the schools in Malawi

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