MALAWI: Lecturer shortage freezes intakes

Malawi's Mzuzu University has frozen student intakes into two programmes apparently because of a dire lecturer shortage. In a press statement issued by the registrar's office ahead of the university's 31 August opening, Mzuzu said it regretted having to make the decision.

Mzuzu University is one of two state-run institutions of higher learning in Malawi, the other being the University of Malawi. Mzuzu was established in 1997 through an Act of Parliament.

"Selection of candidates into the bachelor of science (optometry) generic and bachelor of science (information and communication technology): Mzuzu University regrets to inform candidates who applied for admission into the above programmes that the programmes will not run for the 2009-2010 academic year. As such, the selection has been frozen," it said.

The statement did not cite the reason for freezing intakes but a student who spoke to University World News on condition of anonymity cited a lack of lecturers as the reason. Questions sent to the Mzuzu registrar's office seeking further details on the issue were not responded to.

The statement added that all students would be required to provide their own stationery.