[Civsoc-mw] MALAWI SUSPENDS SECONDARY SCHOOL FEES. .. Your thoughts? !?

[Abbas Panjwani]

http://news-af.op-mobile.opera.com/news/detail/6452471bbb0bf0a26cbe06d3a910c2a3_mw?share=1&country=mw&language=en

Malawi government has ordered head teachers in public secondary schools to
delay the collection of school fees as the schools open Monday after a
two-month summer holiday.



Munthali: Questions the timing

But secretary for Education, Science and Technology, Justin Saidi,  in a
circular  to all head teachers in the country, has not given reasons why
there should be a delay in the collection of fees.

“As you are aware, the 2018/19 academic year starts from 10th September,
2018. I write to advise that you should delay the collection and receipt of
tuition fees from students for the 2018/19 academic year.

“You will receive further instructions on the same in due course,” says the
letter in part.

Saidi says the instruction only applies to payments of tuition fees and
does not apply to the collection and receipt of the other fees such as text
book, revolving fund, general purpose fund or boarding fees where
applicable.

“I would like to appeal to all education division managers to make sure
that the content of this circular letter is urgently brought to the
attention of all headmasters for information and implementation,” says the
 further.

Sources in the Ministry of Education have confided to Nyasa Times that the
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are using this as campaign tool to offer
free secondary education.

Governance and rights activist Makhumbo Munthali told Nyasa Times that the
Ministry of Educationcommunique seems to suggest that government is
considering introducing free Secondary School education.

“ While the idea to introduce such a policy is ambitious and good in as far
as increasing access to education for those learners who would not manage
to pay fees, the question of the timing of when such a policy should be
implemented should be seriously looked into,” he said.

Munthali argued that  already the country is failing  to successfully
manage primary education despite introducing free primary education with
the burden to cover the deficits now transfered to parents under the
so-called development funds and others.

“No wonder many have repeatedly said Primary School is not free – a
complete diversion from the Education Act of 2013. It is against such a
background that many would still raise serious doubts on the feasibility of
government implementing free primary education,” he said.

Munthali added: “ Just like Primary Education experience, government may
simply transfer the burden of financing the likely huge deficit that may be
incurred in financing free tuition secondary education to parents and
learners under the non-tuition fees like PTA/Development funds at school
level.”

He said informed by the free Primary School experience, it would therefore
be important for government to clearly spell out the mechanisms it has put
in place in order to successfully implement the new free secondary school
policy.

“Politically, it is clear that this  decision may have been made
bythe DPP government in order to strengthen its chances of winning the 2019
Tripartite elections. It may hence be seen as one of those desperate
attempts by the ruling party to outsmart its strong competitors in MCP and
UTM in the election.

“However, the only problem with ‘politically-motivated’ policies is that
they are often not sustainable, and they in the short or long term put huge
burden on the tax-payer. In summary, its important that government
addresses the shortfalls with the implementation of free primary education
before extending such a policy to secondary school,” Munthali said.

In Africa, Ghana is already offering free secondary education which started
out this month under President Nana Akufo- Addo. In 2015 Gambia removed
fees for all public primary and secondary schools, while in 2016 Tanzania
removed lower secondary school fees.

Timve NAWO

Abbas Panjwani
Malawi
E: ibc.malawi at gmail
M: +265 999 826666 | +265 888 826666 | +265 212 888 826666
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