The Maravi Post

VIEWPOINT

THROUGH your publication, please let me express my frustrations with the quota system of selecting students to publically-funded colleges.

First, our deserving children were left in the cold as their names didn’t appear in the selection list of residential students. However, we were consoled with a place for our children as non-residential students.

Second, our hearts were broken to learn that our children will be paying K115, 000 per year while their residential counterparts are just paying K25,000 not to mention numerous other benefits. This fees of K115, 000 has been revised upwards to K150, 000 while that of residential students is still at K25, 000.

Third, the previous government after realising its mistake, it decided that all non residential students (first and second year only) should start receiving about K30, 000 a month for food and accommodation. That was good news except that it leaves out a third of students that were the first victims of the quota system.

I am complaining on behalf of many parents that are poor. I am a primary school teacher who is struggling to raise K150, 000 per year just for tuition for my child, a third year student at The Polytechnic in Blantyre.

I am appealing to our President, Her Excellency Mrs. Joyce Banda, to intervene on our behalf and bring an end to the evils of the quota system.
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