University closes after students protest five-month holiday

University of Malawi management has temporarily closed the university following vigils which students have been conducting at the institution in protest over changes to the academic calendar, writes Mwayi Mkandawire for Malawi24.

“Following the stalemate between university management and Students’ Representative Council, and knowing that the vigils posed a security threat to both the university community and the general public, management has resolved to temporarily close the university with immediate effect,” said University Registrar Mary Wasiri in a statement.

University of Malawi students have been holding vigils at the campus in protest against the current academic calendar which provides for a five-month holiday between semesters. Humble Bondo, president of the University of Malawi students’ body, said last week that the calendar would mean students having one semester in one year instead of two semesters per year.
Full report on the Malawi24 site