Public university fee adjustments are now sending ripple effects across Malawi’s education sector, forcing private schools to reconsider their own tuition structures amid rising operational pressures.
The Private Schools Association of Malawi (PRISAM) says it is reviewing school fees across its member institutions, warning that the changes in public universities have intensified financial strain within private education.
PRISAM President Ernest Karonga says private schools are being indirectly pushed to act, as they face similar cost pressures but must also remain competitive in staffing and service delivery.
He pointed to rising expenses in electricity, water, teaching materials, and maintenance as key challenges affecting operations.
“Like public institutions, private schools must compete to retain qualified teachers. In many education systems, up to 70% of any tuition increase goes directly to salaries and benefits for staff,” he said.
Karonga said when public universities adjust their fees, private schools are often forced to reassess their own to avoid deficits and staff migration to better-paying institutions.
“We have not made a final decision, but we cannot ignore the economic reality. Our schools run almost entirely on tuition. If costs rise and fees remain static, quality suffers,” he said.
He added that no fee hike has yet been implemented, but the issue is now firmly on the table following the university adjustments.
“The trigger was public universities moving first, and now private schools say they are feeling the same cost squeeze,” he said.
The review is expected to heighten concern among parents already struggling with rising living costs, raising questions about affordability and access to quality education.
