Malawi President Joyce Banda on Sunday awarded scholarships to 117 needy students under University of Malawi and Mzuzu University.
The President, who is founder of Joyce Banda Foundation, issued a K5 million (about $2 000)Â symbolic cheque under Edith Mtila Scholarship, named after her late mother, at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre.
Banda said the money will cater for 200 students. She said her foundation is still scrutinising other applications.
The President said she is worried that donors only focus on promoting primary education, appealing to them to support secondary and tertiary education as well. She said other students fail to complete tertiary education due to tuition fees and Malawi loses out potential professionals.
Banda, who was accompanied by her husband, retired Chief Justice Richard Banda, appealed to individuals and institutions to start sponsoring needy students.
She advised the beneficiaries of the scholarships to make use of the chance, warning that she had a right to withdraw the scholarship to those that may underperform.
Minister of Education Eunice Kazembe said government alone cannot meet all the requirements the education sector needs, praising the role Banda is playing.
