Mutharika promises Mombera University in 2014/15 budget

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has named Mombera University as the first to be constructed in a queue of six envisaged to lessen the scramble for higher education which heralded a contentious quota system of selecting students to public universities.

“The next university to be built will be here, in the North. The site for Mombera University has already been identified in Mzimba and the next budget will have an allocation for the designing of the university,” said Mutharika in Mzuzu today during the graduation of 686 students at Mzuzu University.

Mutharika has kicked off his maiden tour of the Northern Region which is largely opposed to the supposed equitable distribution of places in higher education which he promised to abolish.

Among those seeking an end to the policy, the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) have welcomed the desire to increase the number of universities as a positive step in ending the quota system which has not translated in equal distribution of the national cake.

Soon after his enthronement as chancellor of Mzuzu University, Mutharika made a commitment to improve quality, access, relevance and governance of higher education.

Congratulating the graduands and their parents, the president acknowledged Malawi faces the challenge to increase its access to universities—saying it is among the lowest performing countries when it comes to expansion of tertiary education to carter for the unmet demand.

While admitting “access to higher education still remains a privilege of a few people in the country”, the president stated that education is of no use to anybody if the person has not received quality education.

He reiterated his wish to expand access to university education by increasing the enrolment of existing universities and constructing new ones.

In an interview after the ceremony, Livingstonia Synod moderator, the Reverend Dr Timothy Nyasulu said the update on Mombera University is a positive step towards dealing with the quota policy the synod strongly opposes.

“This is a positive step. But looking at the number of students who qualify for university education and fail to get places, we expect more. The building of the university will take time. Between now and the establishment of the university of Mombera, govt should find a way of ensuring those who qualify get access to university,” said the cleric.

Concerns about the quota system, coupled with inequalities in distribution of public places and other resources, have seen some elements in the North clamouring for a federal system of government or secession.

Nyasulu said: “All we want to see are resources being shared equally.”

On the other hand, MCP leader Dr Lazarus Chakwera, who attended the function as Leader of Opposition in Parliament, concurred with the president on the creation of more universities to eliminate inequalities in access to high education.

“The announced construction of Mombera University may not be enough to end quota system, but every big journey begins with a single step. All I want is better education for everyone,” said Chakwera.

According to Mutharika, two sites have already been identified for the university and money for designs will be in the next budget.

He also called for innovative ways of financing the universities by attracting more resources from outside the country and finding additional resources within the country through public funds, fees and finances from private sector.

To walk the talk, he said his government has already approved a loan from the World Bank for a Skills Development Project that will benefit University of Malawi, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Mzuni.

He said Mzuni will get $8million over four years to increase access, quality and relevance to students in its Tourism and Hospitality faculty and its Open and Distance Learning programmes.

Mzuni Council chairperson Professor Brown Chimphamba, said the university strives to increase access and quality of higher education but resources remain a challenge. He said the university needs infrastructure, operational funds and big number of lectures with doctorate degree.

Mzuni Vice Chancellor Dr Robert Ridley said Mutharika being a person with a good background of education and understanding of universities; the universities look forward to his guidance.

Eleven students who graduated with distinctions and first-class rating received K100 000 each from the president, a tradition which dates back to the presidency of Mutharika’s brother, Bingu.

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Read Mutharika’s Full Speech made at the graduation ceremony here.

Speech by Apm on the Occassion of the 16th Congregation of Mzuni by John Richard Kasalika