Mutharika meets University of Malawi Council over reopening of colleges

President Peter Mutharika on Thursday summoned the newly constituted University of Malawi (Unima) Council for a meeting, State House confirmed to Nyasa Times.

President Mutharika: Meets Unima council

Presidential spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani said the meeting took place on the evening at Kamuzu  Palace in Lilongwe .

Kalilani said the president who is also the Chancellor of the University of Malawi wanted to “hear from the council on the progress they have made on efforts to open the closed colleges.”

Students at three of four Unima constituent colleges –the Malawi Polytechnic, Chancellor College and Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) have in the past week protested the increase in their financial contribution leading the Unima council into closing Chancellor College following a fracas that ensued during protests.

Recently, Mutharika accused councils and managements of public universities of contributing to the closure of the institutions of higher learning because of their resistance to embrace the ongoing reforms in the public service.

The President also challenged councils and managements of public universities to stop looking up to him whenever there is a crisis; instead they should devise solutions to problems rocking institutions of higher learning.

The reconstituted  Unima Council board include Professor Jack Wirima, who is chairperson and George Patridge and Justice Duncan Tambala as members.

Other members in the Unima Council board include “two members to be appointed by the University Council, principals of the four constituent colleges of Unima [College of Medicine, Chancellor College, Kamuzu College of Nursing and The Polytechnic].

It also includes four members appointed by the Senate of Unima, two members appointed by Unima Students Council, Unima vice-chancellor, PS in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary for Human Resources Management and Development and the Comptroller of Statutory Corporations.

 

 

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chancellor wa chancellor
chancellor wa chancellor
7 years ago

If Mutharka does dot want the council to refer to him HE SHOULD NOT be Chancellor which is merely a ceremonial title. An ordinary citizen of substance should be Chancellor and things and decisions will be made independently and development in public higher institutions will be manifested. Radical change of mind set is required. But if you remain chancellor surely the council will be toothless. Herewith free advise take or leave it. I rest my case.

Mphondo Zagadabuka
Mphondo Zagadabuka
7 years ago

Long overdue

Parallel Market
Parallel Market
7 years ago

Open the colleges. Those who want to learn will pay the revised fees. Osafuna let them go to other universities they think are affordable. If the students become adamant again then close the colleges indefinately.

koma abale inu eeh
koma abale inu eeh
7 years ago

I hope APM did really impress on the Council the urgency in this matter.
He should NOT be doing their work at all. Perhaps he should have (or maybe he did) give them a deadline of sorts.
Apparently, many of us in this country, think as slowly as we walk! When is this Council going to get it through their thick skulls that these institutions are vital to our future?
If the Council is not up to snuff, why did they accept the positions? For prestige, or resumes in future? Nobody forced them to take these positions!!!!!

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