Mzuni sponsors 40 students

Mzuzu University (Mzuni) has unveiled plans to provide 40 education scholarships to needy students through the recently established Mzuni Student Scholarship Fund.

Mzuni established the fund after noting that a number of needy students with no access to the government loan scheme fail to pursue their studies at the institution. The university raised the funds through fundraising activities and well-wishers’ donations towards the cause.

One of the needy students, Godfrey Nhlane, a bachelor of science in tourism first year student, said he risks dropping out of school as he has no one to pay his fees. He said his sister can hardly put food on the table as she sells bananas in Mzuzu City for the two to survive.

Many students in public universities are struggling to raise tuition and lodging fees

hovering around K200 000 (about $295) per year.

In a bid to assist needy students, government introduced the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board which last year provided funding to 4 474 students in public universities and some in private institutions.

The scheme has, however, been faulted for excluding some needy students while benefiting some from well-to-do families.

Malawi has four functional public universities, namely, University of Malawi (Unima), Mzuni, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar) and Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must). n