Malawi College of Health Sciences students to hold vigils, petition Joyce Banda

The sole government health college in Malawi that helps in improving health services by training health personnel’s is currently passing through difficult times as government continues to ignore its financial crisis that forced the colleges to prematurely closed for an indefinite holiday leaving many students lavishing in their respective homes! Though many education sectors in Malawi continue to suffer financially the PP government continue to spend on many luxurious things like 1st anniversary celebrations and buying oppositions heavy weights individuals into its party.

Meanwhile the Roman Catholic body called Centre for Social Concern (CFSC), which come up with monthly surveys of cost of living in Malawi has described the PP led government as “insensitive” for spending around US$4 million (MK1.6 billion) on a new fleet of 4 wheel drive Toyota Prado TX models for 35 cabinet ministers amidst painful economic reforms that are impacting on 65 percent of the 14 million people living below the poverty line .

In a related development, Chaos erupted yesterday morning at Lilongwe Teachers Training College as students demand their unpaid allowances for 3 months (thus K60,000 each). The Malawi Police had to use teargas to disburse the angry students who vowed to continue protesting until they get their allowances.

Another sad development is that of Teachers in Kasungu, Mchinji, Ntchisi, Dowa, Some parts of Lilongwe, Dedza, Ntcheu and Balaka including Neno and South West Education division have not yet received their March salaries up to date. Some Teachers have threaten to go on strike if they are not paid by the end of this week. Come next monday April, 15th they are not going to teach the pupils! Ministry of Education and the Accountant General attribute the late salaries to software upgrade.

Meanwhile the students from Malawi college of health sciences are planning of demonstrations in Blantyre and Lilongwe and submit a petition to president Joyce Banda for her government to take seriously the issues of financial crisis for the college.