’Varsity students want loan, upkeep allowance hiked
Students from the country’s six functional public universities have petitioned government to increase their upkeep allowance and loan coverage as offered by the Higher Education Students’ Loans and Grants Board.
In their letter dated November 4 2021 and signed by their respective student union leaders to the Loans Board and copied to Vice- President Saulos Chilima in his capacity as Minister of Economic Planning and Development; and Public Sector Reforms, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Parliamentary Committee on Higher Education, the students say they want government to adjust upwards their upkeep loan from about K100 000 to K240 000 per semester.
They argue that the current upkeep loan they get is not enough to cater for their accommodation, meals and stationery.
Reads the letter in part: “This letter, therefore, serves to draw your attention to the grievances of concerned needy and deserving students who feel they are being denied the right to education because of being poor.
“There is some evidence that prospective students from poverty-stricken families are forgoing university education due to lack of tuition fees or upkeep money or both.”
The signatories are students from the University of Malawi, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, Mzuzu University, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Malawi University of Science and Technology.
The students also demand to know the policies which the Loans Board is currently following to disburse loans to needy students, arguing that it leaves a lot to be desired.
In an interview yesterday, Public Universities Students Unions task force acting chairperson Lloyd Thalavuh said there were a number of needy and deserving students who opt to withdraw due to financial challenges.
He said most of the challenges can be resolved if the concerned parties engage in a discussion.
Said Thalavuh: “They have to hear our story first for them to understand why we came up with that because sometimes people just talk without knowing what really prompted that.”
In a separate interview, Ministry of Education director of higher education Levis Eneya acknowledged receipt of the letter from the students.
He said: “They have raised an important issue and they have also raised to an important office. The issue that they are receiving less than what is economical cost is a genuine one. In my view, I think it’s good they have raised this issue with the loans board.”
In his reaction, Civil Society Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe said the students’ concerns were justifiable considering the rising cost of living in the country.
He said K100 000 per semester is not adequate for a university student’s needs.
