2 658 ’varsity students in need

 At least 2658 students from Malawi’s public universities do not have tuition and upkeep money, putting them at risk of being withdrawn from studies.

This was disclosed in Mzuzu yesterday when student leaders from Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must), University of Malawi (Unima), Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes), and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) in conjunction with Youth and Society (YAS) addressed a press conference.

Luanar students representative Tarcizio Kalaundi said 316 students at Bunda Campus in Lilongwe are on the verge of losing places due to lack of fees and upkeep, while James Kalawa, representing students from Must said about 1 500 students may not return to school when

 they re-open due to lack of fees.

A Kuhes student representative Pascal Chipewa said 91 students have had their places reserved due to lack of fees, and will return to school next year.

At least 26 students may also lose places at Mubas while 560, that excluded incoming first year students also require urgent help at Mzuni.

In an interview after the briefing, Unima Students Union president Charles Dokera said 134 students do not have resources, and 31 have already been withdrawn from the university.

He called for urgent need to deal with the situation, which he said is dire.

Dokera said: “Most students are coming from poor backgrounds, so they are struggling to access education in terms of tuition, accommodation as well as food.”

In an interview, YAS executive director Charles Kajoloweka said the students’ concerns are genuine and called on the corporate actors to step in.

“So we appeal to government to do more, by raising the upkeep, but also for the corporate world to help,” he said.

In an earlier interview, loans board spokesperson Henry Chingaipe said the challenge is that some students who are well supported by their guardians still apply for loans, which denies others an opportunity to access the same.

Civil Society Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe agreed with calls for more resources at the loans board, saying there is growing demand for loans among students.

“The demand for loans out-paces the amount of money given,” he said