MALAWI: Top university dumps quota system

22 February 2009

The University of Malawi has dumped a controversial quota system for the selection of students that saw it being taken to court last year. A press statement released by the chancellor's office said this year's students had been selected on merit.

The university announced the names of successful candidates selected to pursue various programmes at Chancellor College and Polytechnic on a non-residential basis.

The non-residential selection, the statement added, was "based on merit using the combined aggregate of the Malawi School Certificate Examination results and University Entrance Examinations results. Consideration was also given to individual choices as well as faculty requirements."

A total of 1,075 candidates had applied for non-residential programmes and 445 had been selected. Of the total selected, 312 were male and 133 female. Fees of Malawi kwacha 100,000 (US$725) would be charged for non-science courses, and kwacha 115,000 for science courses.

Last year, the Malawi High Court outlawed the quota system, which involved students being selected into higher education on the basis of their district or region rather than straight merit.

The district quota system was first introduced by the late dictator Hastings Kamuzu Banda's Malawi Congress Party in 1988. But it was abandoned following a 1993 court ruling that it was discriminatory and in violation of the fundamental right of Malawian citizens to equitable development through equal opportunities to access higher education, regardless of one's district or region of origin or ethnicity.

Clemence Manyukwe

Comment

I wish the quota system wouldd just end because many northeners are suffering. People are left out, even those with the best grades, making people lose hope in the university.

Wezzie Longwe

Receive UWN's free weekly e-newsletters

Sponsored Article

Getting to net zero, one community at a time

University of Victoria staff

Accelerating Community Energy Transformation is a University of Victoria-led collaborative initiative that brings together over 40 partners, including Indigenous knowledge keepers and community leaders, to create innovative place-based solutions for energy system transformation.

Promoted by the University of Victoria.

Sponsored Article

Africa pays a premium for global climate change sluggishness

Stellenbosch University staff

Africa needs to stop paying the price for the rest of the world’s recalcitrance to act fast enough in response to the irrefutable conclusions that climate change is real and that the impact of global warming could be devasting, says Professor Guy Midgley, interim director of the School for Climate Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Promoted by the University of Victoria.

Sponsored Article

Innovations to ensure energy savings in a hot, arid climate

UAE University staff

Researchers from the United Arab Emirates University have shown that the potential benefits of building energy savings and a cooler indoor environment, as well as improved cooling effect on air temperature at pedestrian level, strongly indicate that a cool roof with high solar reflectance and albedo is a promising strategy for buildings in regions with hot, arid climates.

Promoted by United Arab Emirates University.

Sponsored Article

A new global university ranking with an ethical mission

Aftab Dean

A new university ranking system aims to serve as a catalyst for positive transformation in higher education, ensuring that universities create an environment grounded in integrity and sustainability that inspires and supports students and staff in the development of novel solutions to global challenges.

Promoted by Globethics.net.

Sponsored Article

SDG progress report launches university into new territory

University of Pretoria staff

In the publication of its first progress report on its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, the University of Pretoria is navigating new territory at the same time as it is acknowledging its clear stewardship role in protecting the environment and biodiversity.

Promoted by the University of Pretoria.