University of Malawi students disapprove govt decision to scrape off upkeep allowances
Students from two constituent colleges of university of Malawi, Chancellor and Polytechnic have disapproved government announcement of abolishment of students allowances that will now be taken care of through students loan scheme.
The abolished student allowance follows the Higher Education Students Loan Bill that was passed in parliament this year February and was approved as an act by president Peter Mutharika.
Last Friday, Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe announced in parliament when he presented the 2015/16 national budget that student fees and stationery allowances have been abolished and will be taken care in the students loan scheme which encompasses all needs.
“Additionally Mr Speaker Sir, the 2015/16 financial year includes a net lending figure of K3 billion, this money has been set aside to capitalize the Higher Education Students Loan and Grant Scheme.
“Accordingly, I wish to inform the house that the government has resolved to abolish the payment of allowances to new students in public universities, and has created the scheme to enable deserving students to acquire loans and grants in support of their education” said Gondwe.
Reacting to the development Chancellor College Students Union President Frank Chadampamba described the development as ill-timed saying a lot of students will suffer.
“The arrangement is not good, to say they have abolished students allowances its not fair, that decision needed proper consultation with students and all stake holders involved, why introduce such an arrangement in a poor country like ours, this will affect students from poor families”, said Chidampamba.
He explained that the issue of loans depends on criteria as students have to fill forms and wait for approval adding “this also depends on whether resources are available for such loans, applying for a loan is not an assurance that you will access it, this will deny people chance to access tertiary education”.
Echoing Chidampamba’s sentiments Polytechnic Students Union President Juston Balaluwa accused government for rushing to change the system
Balaluwa said much as the proposal seem good but from the students side of it, the understanding is that students are not sure whether the loans will be enough to carter for all needy students in the country.
“We have fears on whether government will fulfil its mandate with loan cover for all needy students because there is no information on the matter as to when and who will specifically benefit.
“We prefer the old system not the new one because we don’t know what it entails, previously the old system was at K2 billion but was failing to carter for all needy students.
“The K2 billion was for school fees and stationary allowance and now they are saying school fees, stationary plus upkeep allowances in the scheme, I don’t think K3 billion can suffice to carter for all students in need out there”, said Balaluwa.
However, Gondwe told parliament that the Ministry of Education Science and Technology is at an advanced stage of operationalizing the new arrangement.
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This is simply Shit
Yaaa am agreeing with the motion why giving the student of public university that allowance while they just use it for drinking alcohol and womanising in he street on top of that kutukwana anthu musewu who pays tax for them to receive those money.
As a tax payer let’s abolish that scheme and concentrate with something that can create job opportunity to others
I would to appeal to all Malawian who live in this country to love one another as what our God Jesus christ taught us to do.In return we will be able to love others and share needs.
God spoke already about those who kill others because of theft they will be put in exile.
Note this to all killers:There is no room for in heaven for those who kill human beings chifukwa cha kuba.
This is long overdue, in fact more students including some SUCC executive members at Chanco despise their parents and guardians because of their student allowance. They don’t pay tax and yet they shower abusive words at other people. Koma akazi basi, zachamba, mowa!!
This is the more reason people are leaving our country to search for greener pasture but ending up killed in xenophobic attacks.Oooh my sweet Lord,what is really happening?What happens to poor students?This is totally unfair,years to come our country will be much more difficult to live in.
Even scholarships are not free. You have to pay something.
First they introduce community colleges across the country then they introduce the student loans. So that Amene wawona kuti university is expensive should try the community college education. Koma tisova
Mumangomwera pint basi. Realistically, I have been there, No one absolutely no-one uses the money to buy stationery. What stationery? Go to Anglia bookstore or any other and find out the cost of a single “Introduction to Economics” text book. The allowance cannot cater for stationery at all. It is actually, and we all know it, pocket money. I applaud the government for this critical decision. At least this one. Students should have been decrying the increase in internet tax which is a platform for downloading online journals. Not about this indirect pocket money and you want us tax payers… Read more »
This is long overdue. Were supposed to introduce this system in the early 1980s. Anyway, to say the least, thank you for bringing in this policy. Chigonapamhanya has already said everything up there.
Boma Ili latha nzeru,ndikuona kenako akuika ma pay points along main roads to collect daily road usage fee,hahahha boma iloooo,2019 boma,