The University of Malawi Students’ Union (Umsu) has called for an immediate re-opening of Chancellor College (Chanco), saying the current trends of closing universities in the country are denting reputation of the country’s tertiary education.
In a statement signed by Umsu Secretary General, Dalitso Dulani, the student’s body has indicated that regardless of any justification of the strike, the body finds its timing faulty.
Recently, Chanco academic staff placed their tools down forcing the University of Malawi (Unima) to resolve salary disparities among its staff in similar grades in the four Unima colleges.
“Regardless of any justification of the strike, Umsu finds its timing as faulty considering that it started when first year students had already travelled as far as from Chitipa to Zomba and at the time that continuing students were to arrive on campus.
“As such, Umsu would like to urge Malawians to deny taking college closures as a normal way of handling universities in Malawi,” reads the statement.
The statement further calls upon the authorities to resolve the current standoff, saying resources are being wasted for unplanned things.
“Malawians who happen to be taxpayers of which their tax is used to run public bodies such as the University of Malawi should know that Chancellor College staff will still be receiving salary though the college is closed.
“Taxpayers should also know that college bills will still be paid. Worse of all, more money will be used for unplanned meetings. This money could have been used for other activities,” reads the statement in part.
Unima recently dismissed demands by Chanco staff for harmonisation of pay with their counterparts at College of Medicine (Com) arguing their request lacks basis.
Unima’s position has hardened the staff’s decision to proceed with the strike which has seen Chanco not opening as scheduled.
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