Synod hits at quota system Malawi university selection

CCAP Synod of Livingstonia, the vocal voice on social and political matters, has hit at government for continuing with the University of Malawi quota selection system, saying it has left out deserving candidates from the colleges especially those from north Malawi.

Livingstonia Synod moderator Reverend Levi Nyondo said this on Tuesday during the funeral ceremony of chief Malanda of Nkhata Bay.

“This system has left out intelligent deserving students and taken on board lazy dull students. This is grossly unfair, that is not how the government should run the affairs of the University of Malawi,” said the seemingly angry Nyondo.

The quota system, which the Malawian government refers to as Equitable Access to University Education, requires higher education institutions to admit students based on where they come from. It is aimed at discouraging a trend under the merit system that saw people from the north entering higher education in greater numbers than students from the south.

Nyondo said students should not be admitted to the public university because of the regions they come from but rather on merit.

Former president Bingu wa Mutharika introduced the quota system to ensure that all districts in the country provided students to the public university after noticing that students from the north, usually hard working and bright, were dominating the University of Malawi selection.

Nyondo said the selection should be based on merit, regardless of one’s region of origin.

Presidential advisor Symon Vuwa Kaunda, who was at the funeral pledged he would deliver the message to President Peter Mutharika.

He however said the government ensures equity in the selection of students to the University of Malawi.