Msaka commends private colleges

Minister of Education, Science and Technology Bright Msaka says government appreciates the role private colleges play in ensuring that deserving students access higher education.

Speaking on Sunday when he presided over the ninth congregation of 504 students of the Malawi Adventist University (MAU) at Lake View in Ntcheu, Msaka said private colleges complement government’s effor in ensuring that students in the country access higher education.

“Government tries its best to offer such opportunities to students in the country. However not every deserving student has access to higher education due to lack of space in public colleges. The role of private colleges, therefore, cannot be underrated,” he said.

The minister said though government is aware of the shortage of space in public colleges, it may take long to solve the challenge, hence ,the creation of a conducive environment for private colleges to operate.

“We are aware that our college intake is limited and that as government we need to do something so that we accommodate more students. However, achieving quality education is not the role of government alone. That is why government created a conducive environment for private colleges to operate in,” Msaka said.

Speaking earlier, MAU chancellor, who is also president of the Adventist Church in Malawi, Pastor Frackson Kuyama commended government for supporting private colleges financially, saying the support rendered to the colleges enables them to produce such graduates.

He pledged to support government by ensuring that the school works in line with national goals.

The students from Lake View campus and Malamulo College of Health Sciences graduated with diplomas and degrees in various fields including health, accounting, education, biomedical sciences and marketing.