Chanco cannot open in two weeks – govt

Malawi government through its leader of delegation at the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) 5 +1 all inclusive stakeholders meeting has disclosed that Chancellor College cannot be opened in two weeks as demanded by the delegates.

Leader of government delegation Samuel Tembenu who is also minister of justice and constitutional affairs said the period is too short for government to have a report on the recommendations from PAC.

Tembenu disclosed that government looks forward to having the Chanco issue resolved with “dialogue” and not ultimatums.

“On 9th June delegates and not PAC gave a recommendation that Chancellor College should open in two weeks and PAC executive is yet meet for those resolutions [and] that two weeks will elapse before government has received a report and we are to act if we receive that report,” said Tembenu on the local press during a program.

Chanco was closed after academic staff demanded equal salary with other lectures under University of Malawi (UNIMA)
The lectures disclosed that College of Medicine (CoM) academic staff receive more than those from Chanco.

Despite the argument by UNIMA council that CoM lectures also work in hospitals, the Chanco lectures resolved to down tools to pressurise authorities to meet the demand.

The closure has witnessed students having a forced holiday for six months now, as the issue remains unresolved a development that has been a concern on the country’s education status.