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The Polytechnic to reopen January 30

 

After over four months of closure, in the face of protracted wrangling over a hike in fees, The Polytechnic, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima), will reopen on Monday next week.
The Unima Council made the announcement yesterday about the opening of The Polytechnic for the 2016/17 academic year.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) executive director Benedicto Kondowe welcomed the development, saying the college’s long closure should teach both students and The Polytechnic officials the need to sort out their grievances amicably, without paralysing their education.

Signed the statement: Malunga

The college gates will be re-opening with no change to the basic fees structure that had brought about the wrangling, including rioting and court battles between the university council and the students’ union council.

According to a statement signed by Unima registrar Benedicto Wokomaatani Malunga, first year female students selected into various   programmes should report on January 30 2016 while all continuing students should report for classes two weeks later, on February 13.

The statement also says continuing students who have been offered accommodation are expected to arrive on campus on February 12, adding that the students shall access accommodation only after paying the required rent in full.

Female students who have been offered accommodation are expected to arrive on campus on January 29, the statement says, adding that all first year students should report on February 6 and all those that have been offered accommodation are expected to arrive on campus on February 5.

It stated that fees for first year generic students is K400 000 and continuing generic students is K350 000, while mature entry students fees is K900 000.

At the height of the squabbles, President Peter Mutharika, who is Chancellor of the University of Malawi, intervened by bringing the two parties together for reconciliation discussions at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on August 4 last year.  n\

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