ONE GRADUATE PER FAMILY IS BETTER OFF THAN ONE COW PER FAMILY POLITICAL HANDOUT.

Malawi needs more of these People.

Esteemed observers, once again before us are burning issues as far as the academic ground is concerned in the country. Something must for sure have gone wrong with our government towards the education system in the country. This is for sure worrisome to parents, students and concerned parties as well the entire nation as education is one of the key players which contribute towards social and economic development of each and every developing nation just as Malawi.

As “The bush observer”, since the Peoples Party took over leadership in April 2012, the issue of education has been a problem in the country and received least attention from the government such that we have all seen several secondary schools and institution of high learning being shut down owing to low funding, no funding, issues of staff salaries and allowances as well as hygiene. This has resulted in some colleges having extended holiday period as well as affecting the mental setup  and unpredictable graduating period of students and costing a lot for parents.

Just as your guess is as good as mine, the issue of closing of colleges has also been there with other regimes say UDF and DPP but for sure this time around, things have turned worse than it has ever been in the country. As of now, there are several institutions owned and run by the government which have closed or not yet opened due to lack of funding or query over staff allowances. We can all assume that our country has a lot of money now owing to the recent looting at Capital Hill. Its not adding up for the government to keep constituents colleges of University of Malawi  and other colleges shut for lack of finances when for sure others are being paid billions of Kwacha from the same government account for supplying nothing(not even a 100 Kwacha bottle of drinking water) yet  keep colleges shut for having no funds. For sure that’s pure nuisance.

In addition to that, in a time that the education system has been compromised in the country, our Chancellor still remains quiet on the matter and goes by providing bursaries to few 10 student of COM when hundreds of them live hopeless and their future in limbo, that doesn’t add up or make a difference. I don’t mean helping the needy is wrong but what about those on the government education scheme? The  best Chancellor  as a caring person could do was open the  colleges which are shut now, provide adequate funding to them, ensure no further closure or disturbances occur  as well as making it an   affordable and reliable  education system .

This was a great time  that our Chancellor could refrain  from the mistakes that once happened in the UDF and DPP era and prove Malawians otherwise than repeat them with an intention that they will be justifiable  as having been in existence since 1994.Then if that’s the way to go, Malawi is not moving forward. That only shows how our leaders lack seriousness in addressing crucial matters than concentrate on their political ambition in which the majority of Malawians do not benefit from excluding few selected individuals of high caliber or connected to the ruling class.

For how long will Malawians be insulted with political handouts? Honestly, this is the time politicians should stop insulting our integrity or taking some peoples poverty to their advantage. Provide quality, affordable and reliable education system to all Malawians, once these youths graduate, make sure government/private sector  should create job opportunities and when these graduates  secure a job ,for sure they will be able to buy cows for themselves and their parents .They will pay fees for others, they will pay tax to the government and take part in developing the country than deny them academic freedom or access to education so that they should continue clapping hands and dancing in political rallies.

By: Magede Si Wandale.