Dalitso Kabambe pushes for reversal of fees hike

UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe has called for the reversal of the recent 100 percent tuition fee increase at public universities. Kabambe made the remarks during a press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday, saying the increase would force students to spend an estimated K4 million annually on tuition, food and accommodation. "How can you expect a farmer in Nthalire and Msakambewa to afford K4 million for his or her child to attend a public university? How can a shop attendant earning K100,000 a month support their children in public universities?" Kabambe asked. He urged the government to reduce spending in less critical areas and redirect the funds to public universities. Kabambe cited allocations to State Residences and the Office of the President and Cabinet, arguing that some of the money could be redirected to support higher education. "State Residences has a budget of K85 billion for this financial year. They can cut K60 billion from that budget. Look at the Office of the President and Cabinet, it has a budget of K52 billion. That can be cut too and used to finance public universities," he said. He argued that reducing the State Residences budget would not affect the President's operations because he is not undertaking many trips. Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) student Naomie Mbeye said the increase would disproportionately affect needy students. Mbeye said students pursuing diploma and certificate programmes faced challenges paying fees because they were not eligible for HESLGB loans and grants. Recently, Luanar, Mzuzu University, the University of Malawi, the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and the Malawi University of Science and Technology increased annual tuition fees from K650,000 to K1.3 million. Kamuzu University of Health Sciences raised its annual fees from K1 million to K2 million. Last week, Ministry of Education Secretary Ken Ndala said the increase was necessary to maintain the quality of teaching and learning in public universities.

WIRE — UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe has called for the reversal of the recent 100 percent tuition fee increase at public universities. Kabambe made the remarks during a press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday, saying the increase would force students to spend an estimated K4 million annually on tuition, food and accommodation. "How can you expect a farmer in Nthalire and Msakambewa to afford K4 million for his or her child to attend a public university? How can a shop attendant earning K100,000 a month support their children in public universities?" Kabambe asked. He urged the government to reduce spending in less critical areas and redirect the funds to public universities. Kabambe cited allocations to State Residences and the Office of the President and Cabinet, arguing that some of the money could be redirected to support higher education. "State Residences has a budget of K85 billion for this financial year. They can cut K60 billion from that budget. Look at the Office of the President and Cabinet, it has a budget of K52 billion. That can be cut too and used to finance public universities," he said. He argued that reducing the State Residences budget would not affect the President's operations because he is not undertaking many trips. Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) student Naomie Mbeye said the increase would disproportionately affect needy students. Mbeye said students pursuing diploma and certificate programmes faced challenges paying fees because they were not eligible for HESLGB loans and grants. Recently, Luanar, Mzuzu University, the University of Malawi, the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences and the Malawi University of Science and Technology increased annual tuition fees from K650,000 to K1.3 million. Kamuzu University of Health Sciences raised its annual fees from K1 million to K2 million. Last week, Ministry of Education Secretary Ken Ndala said the increase was necessary to maintain the quality of teaching and learning in public universities.

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