Stop being greedy, Unima council told

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Frank Msiska

The University of Malawi (Unima) council has been advised to prioritise education instead of money if higher education is to improve in the country.

This was said by president of the Polytechnic Students Union (PSU) Frank Msiska following the council’s silence on the date when students will resume their classes at the institution.

The council is yet to set the date even though the fees hike court case between the council and the students ended on Monday.

Frank Msiska
Frank Msiska: They need to stop being greedy.

Speaking on behalf of fellow students, Msiska said the college has been closed for a long time which is affecting their education and generating negative behaviour among the students who are just staying at home.

“We could have been in class while the case was still at court. We could have been handling the case while students were learning because it is not all students who could have been going to court for the hearing that is why we were chosen to represent them, but I wonder why the council is much concerned with money instead of putting education as a priority,” said Msiska.

Commenting on the controversy among the students, as some of whom agreed to pay for the new fees while others wanted old fees, Msiska said they get views from the students before coming up with anything as a union. He also claimed that they make decisions using the majority rule.

“Those who were saying we should pay the new fees were just desperate for the resuming of school but they were not considering those who cannot manage to raise such funds for their education,” said Msiska.

In his ruling on the fees hike case on Monday, presiding Judge Healey Potani ruled that students who are continuing with their studies should pay the old fees which is K275,000 while those starting their first year should pay the new fees which is K350,000.