Poly students reject Mutharika K50 000  fee reduction: Fresh demos in the offing

Students at The Polytechnic in Blantyre, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima), have rejected  President Peter Mutharika’s offer to reduce the hiked fees by  K50 000 ($68).

Mutharika met Unima Students union following fees hike protests and closure of Chancellor College. It was later directed that the revised fees be reduced by K50 000 and have Chancellor College opened.

But in a letter addressed to Poltechnique students on Monday, the Polytechnic Students Union (PSU) has advised students to pay according to the previous fees structure which is K55,000 for government sponsored students and K250,000/K275000 for self-sponsored students.

“Should the relevant authorities pay a deaf ear to the cries, joint peaceful demonstrations and indefinite vigil at University Council offices with our sister colleges should be held until our campaign bears the intended fruits,” reads the letter seen by Nyasa Times.

“We should hold indefinite vigil at University Council offices until our pleas are taken heed of,” reads the letter.

The students say they will petition President Mutharika to “further reduce the fees to amounts that will be affordable.”

Youth and Society (YAS), which led the protests against the fees hike, are backing the students, saying  the K50 000 reduction is a mockery.

YAS executive director Charles Kajoloweka said the margin of fees reductionis too narrow to make impact.