Should parents complement Unima scholarship?

The introduction of self-boarding at University of Malawi (Unima) colleges has subjected students to hardships due to little upkeeps that do not meet the accommodation and meals costs. I find out if parental contribution should complement government scholarship.

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In Blantyre, Mbayani Township has its ugly stories — over-population, robbery, poor housing and sanitation — but still, it is the home to all shades of people especially on the lower of the economic spectrum. There is a reason: life is cheap and for those who shun over-spending on housing, meals and other basic services, it is their best option.

The introduction of self-boarding in University of Malawi (Unima) colleges has made the lifestyle in this township preferable for some Unima students on self-boarding, who feel their students’ allowance, pegged at K40 000 for off-campus students, cannot sustain them if they settle in low density locations.

“Mbayani is far from the Polytechnic, but it is affordable because accommodation and meals are very cheap. It is two years since I started living here. Whenever I fail to secure accommodation on campus, I come here,” says one of the students studying at The Polytechnic, who preferred to be quoted by his first name, Chris.

He rents a three bed-roomed house alongside five others at K10 000 each per month.

“It does not make sense to me,” he says, “to rent a costly house in locations where life is expensive and starve at the end of the day. We all want to save. Imagine, eight people are living in a small house in the suburbs and the conditions are compromised. So, I made a decision to stay in congested location even if it means using candles and drinking from boreholes, after all, what matters is passing examinations,” he adds.

This is the lifestyle most students at The Polytechnic and the College of Medicine live by in Blantyre. Apart from Mbayani, some students on self-boarding live in Chitawira, Catholic Institute, Ndirande, Mandala and Chinyonga. It is the same story at Chancellor College in Zomba and other colleges. The students walk long distances to and from colleges, eat substandard meals and live in housing not befitting university students under the guise of saving.

During our investigations, we established that most students living both on and off campus survive on cheap and substandard meals sold by outsiders at the campuses. For instance, at Polytechnic, outsiders sell meals at very low prices compared to that offered at the cafeteria by recognised food suppliers.

“No one can tell you the truth about our lifestyles because we all want to be portrayed as responsible, but visit the homes where most of us live. Girls are better, but it is worse among boys. Many of us take our supper at Blantyre and Limbe markets because meals are cheap,” reveals Chris.

He adds that some girls are relying much on boyfriends to top up their purse. He says on campus love relationships are almost dead because most girls prefer the working class to support them financially, a development which does not surprise education commentator Roy Hauya and risks the future of most female students.

But where are the parents in this whole scenario? Why are parents watching their children living a cheap life under the pretext of saving?

In random interviews, some parents in Blantyre argued that there is no need for them to contribute in supporting a child on full scholarship.

Hauya says Malawi usually comes up with good ideas but they are spoilt by not coming up with proper measures to curb the challenges that might follow. While referring to the free primary education initiative, which is blamed for messing up conditions in primary schools, Hauya says, self-boarding in colleges is a good idea as it has the potential to double intakes, but says authorities failed to plan on who would provide the students on self-boarding with accommodation and catering services.

“We usually refer to old perceptions. Most of the students in colleges are teens and how can you load them with the responsibility to manage themselves from outside the campus? A teenager should be thinking of finding a house and meals daily?” says Hauya.

Ministry of Education spokesperson, Rabecca Phwitiko, admits that there are irregularities in ensuring that all students in colleges have access to good meals and accommodation. She says while the day to day management issues are done by the colleges under the direction of the Unima office, government ensures there is quality education for students supported by good nutrition and accommodation.

“Government will look at the affordability of meals in the cafeteria. We will also look at the students’ allowances in the context of economic realities as well as the levels of remuneration for others employed in the education sector and discuss with Unima,” says Phwitiko, adding that it should not be forgotten that in higher education, students have to make ‘contribution’ to their education.

However, Phwitiko’s point on parental role meets stiff arguments. All over the world, a full scholarship meets everything a student needs while in college.

Educationists Dr Steve Sharra disagrees on students’ contributions. He says Unima colleges offer full scholarships and there is no need to over-task students with the responsibility of securing accommodation, meals and contribute to their education.

“If government is providing a blanket scholarship, they have to make sure students have access to better services because they are paid for. Parents are there to support here and there, but we cannot blame them because we all know the students are on full scholarships,” says Sharra.

Benedicto Kondowe, executive director for Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec), concurs with Sharra, saying there is need for a proper definition of the government scholarships because it does not make sense to punish students who are on full scholarships.

“Someone came up with the amount for upkeep allowance and we all know what it has subjected our students to. We should not bring parents into this issue unless we are talking about partial scholarships or self sponsorship,” says Kondowe.

Phwitiko is optimistic that the arising problems will become an issue of the past soon. She says government is planning to adopt the Public Private Partnerships (PPP) programme to engage the private sector in the construction of appropriate accommodation facilities in a ‘build, operate and transfer’ mode. This, she says, will allow private sector to construct structures for students, operate for a few years and then transfer them to the institutions.

“This has been extensively discussed and what remains is government’s approval and it is in line with international best practices as it ensures quality accommodation at reasonable costs,” she says.

Registrar for Unima, Benedicto Okomaatani Malunga, however, argues that the problem is on the scholarship and its conditions. While highlighting that what students pay for the education is insufficient to help the college put up better structures and services to support students’ stay in university. He says there is need to ‘cost-share the contribution’ between parents and government for those on scholarship because the tuition fees is too little to support better education for students.

“Both self-sponsored and government-sponsored students are heavily subsidised by government despite the fact that higher education is not a right, but a privilege. Higher education requires that those that benefit from it should cost-share and this is a global trend,” says Malunga.