UNIMA STUDENTS CALL FOR AN INCREMENT ON SCHOOL ALLOWANCES

By Rhodrick Banda 

The University of Malawi Students Union Board on Wednesday met the Parliamentary committee on Education and loans board to plea for an increment on school allowances from MWK200 Thousand to MWK 480 Thousand.

President for Malawi University Students Union Charles Dokera said the plea comes following the high cost of living, as the money allocated to the students in public universities is insufficient to carter for accommodation and food per semester.

Dokera said it is worrisome that many poor students are dropping out of school due to failure to find basic needs a development he cited will affect the implementation of the Malawi 2063 vision.

However Dokera said the response yielded from the meeting is not promising at all but hoped after thorough consultations with the relevant stakeholders there is going to be a tangible feedback.

Acting Executive Director for Higher Education Students Loans Board Prince Phwetekere commended the move taken by the students saying will help in lobbying with parliamentarians and other well-wishers to increase the students allowance to meet the current cost of living.

On the list of beneficiaries of the loans that was released in December, the loans board director has called for review to remove those who were not supposed to benefit from the initiative while adding those students in dire need of the fund.

In his remarks, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Education Brenex Kayisi acknowledged students are facing numerous challenges due to economic hardships and promised will meet with other stakeholders to assist the students as grievances presented are valid.