University of Malawi delinking finally accomplished
The delinking of Malawi’s oldest institution of higher learning, the University of Malawi, into three separate universities has been accomplished, 11 years after former president Bingu wa Mutharika mooted the idea to the university council in 2009.
Mutharika only managed to delink or unbundle Bunda College in 2011 to create Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) before his death in 2012 and his successor, president Joyce Banda, shelved the process.
But another past-president, Peter Mutharika, who succeeded Banda, rekindled the idea, which the current administration, under President Lazarus Chakwera, has now concluded.
The Malawi Ministry of Education has gazetted 4 May 2021 to be the commencement date for Acts of Parliament Nos 18, 19 and 20 of 2019, that established the three new universities, namely: a reconstituted University of Malawi (UNIMA), the Malawi University of Business and Applied Scienc
President Lazarus Chakwera has challenged the University of Malawi (UNIMA) to maintain high standards as it undergoes delinking process.
Speaking at Chancellor College during the virtual graduation where only 73 with distinction graduates physically attended, Chakwera said UNIMA founder, former President Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda had a great vision, which was to make Malawian education competitive to the world.
He said UNIMA was as such, founded to offer education that would capacitate graduates with knowledge that would make them outclass others even those from developed countries.
“We must at all-times strive to maintain the high standards that were set by the founding father of UNIMA. Even now that we are delinking, we must ensure the standards are not compromised.”
Delinked universities to start operating from 4 May universityworldnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from universityworldnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Government, through the Ministry of Education, has finally set 4 May 2021 as date when the colleges under the University of Malawi (Unima) will be officially delinked.
Unima delinking officially on May 4
Capital Hill has since appointed a new steering committee to complete the delinking process and operationalization of the new universities.
The steering committee comprises Committe Professor Emmanuel Kaunda (Chairperson), Dr Philip Kaonda, Dr Tasokwa Kakota-Chibowa, Dr Asyatu Chaweza, Dr Macphall Magwira and the Director of Higher Education in the Ministry of Education.
Government resolved to delink Polytechnic, Kamuzu College of Nursing and College of Medicine from Unima to, among others, increase access to higher education and improve governance and operational efficiency in public universities in the country.
PresidentLazarus Chakwera is ready to reduce his ‘unnecessary’ presidential powers but he is waiting for the laws to change, State House has said. Press Secretary to the Malawian head of state, Brian Banda responding to questions from journalist during State House weekly briefing on Monday said President Chakwera is committed to fulfil his campaign promises. “President […]